US author in Istanbul for film

ISTANBUL - 'Body of Lies' is the new Ridley Scott film based on David Ignatius' novel ubout America and the Middle East. The thriller aims to shed light on the important role Jordan intelligence services have played in the Iraq war and the importance of trust in the region.

America in the Middle East is not only the subject of the latest Ridley Scott film "Body of Lies," but also a subject we all live with and have feelings about, according to David Ignatius, a columnist for the Washington Post and author of the novel "Body of lies" adapted for the film.

The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, is a thriller and not a political film, said Ignatius speaking at a press conference Tuesday at Istanbul’s Bahçeşehir University. Roger Farris, the character played by DiCaprio, is a C.I.A agent who works with Jordan intelligence services to put an end to terrorist activities lead by Al-Saleem in Iraq. However, operations cease to run smoothly because of the interventions of the ill-informed supervisor in Washington, Ed Hoffman, played by Russell Crow.

"Roger Farris learns about the limits of both what he and the United States can do, and we can leave the film with a positive outlook that both Farris and the United States have learned through the process and will not make the same mistakes again," said Ignatius.

According to Ignatius, one of the most important messages that comes across in both the film and the book is that America has to learn more about this part of the world and realize that in the Middle East trust is everything, and it must be earned.

Ignatius stressed that he worked with Ridley to create a thriller film that depicted a reality. "I am a reporter, I like to work from fact," said Ignatius, after explaining that he spent time with Jordan intelligence and the reality he witnessed inspired him to write the novel.

"Both Ridley and I are not interested in a James Bond-style action movie with expensive cars and beautiful women. Our focus is on the real dark thriller that is currently taking place in our world," said Ignatius.

When asked at the conference if the film has romanticized this harsh reality, Ignatius said romanticizing would mean not showing the harsh interrogation process carried out by the intelligence services explicitly displayed throughout the film, adding that as long as there are people blowing up places around the world, harsh integration systems asserted by intelligence services are necessary.

Speaking about how true Leonardo Dicaprio and Russell Crowe were to the characters in the novel, Ignatius said both of the famous actors played believable roles and played against each other to create an interesting and powerful dynamic.

Ignatius concluded that the film did justice to the novel while depicting a realistic picture of the Middle East without stereotyping its people, as past Hollywood films have done. "Body of Lies" comes out in cinemas across Turkey on Friday.Hurriyet