Samir Peter was once the most famous pianist in Iraq. Sean McAllister met him playing in a hotel bar for journalists and freelance security forces and decided he'd make a great documentary subject. We met Samir in London as he and Sean enjoyed a whistle-stop trip en route to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
BBC Four: What did you think when Sean told you he wanted to film your life?
Samir Peter: At the beginning I wasn't very serious about making the film with Sean, but after spending days and days with him I realised that he was a professional. We then spent eight months constantly together: we were both living in the same hotel. In the morning we would have breakfast together. If I didn't see him there I would look for him and if he couldn't see me then he'd look for me. The hotel started to be suspicious about us. Once one of the ladies in the hotel told me, "I don't know what the secret is between you two men". She thought we were homosexuals! After that I told Sean that we had to be separated a little from each other. But Sean couldn't live without me there.
BBC Four: You helped him...
SP: For eight months I was so scared for Sean. I was looking after him, giving him advice. I gave him instructions about where not to go and who not to speak to. In the afternoons we would drive to my home, with Sean hidden in my car, to avoid anyone seeing him in my house, because it's in a very dangerous area. We spent all our time like this and I told him not to go even one step without me. That is why he was never kidnapped; because he was with me. In the end it became too dangerous - I was being asked too many questions about Sean. I told him, "Sean, you have to leave. I cannot protect you anymore."
BBC Four: How does it feel watching the finished film?
SP: Sean cut the most important scenes!
BBC Four: What in particular?
SP: One day we went to a Shia ceremony at 10 o'clock at night in Sadr City - a very dangerous area of Baghdad. They were carrying swords and hitting their heads with them. We were the only foreigners among them. Suddenly Sean asked me, right in front of them, "Is this going to be the new face of Iraq?" The Shia were starring at me. What could I do? I told Sean, "Don't ask me embarrassing questions. What will the viewers in England think of me? Why is this bloody pianist here? I am Christian - let's go". I took him and we left. We were so lucky that we weren't killed. I asked him, "I am an artist. Why are you bringing me here?" But he had certain ideas in his mind for the film. He is crazy and I got swept up with him. Anyhow, I liked the man, and he liked me.
BBC Four: How is your immigration application to the United States going?
SP: My wife and two of my daughters are there. I applied last year and completed the medical tests and everything. They told me I would have to wait. It's now been almost a year and I've heard nothing. I applied for a visitor's visa to go with Sean to the Sundance Film Festival and they said, "How can we give you a visitor visa? First you applied for an immigrant visa, now you are applying for a non-immigrant visa - it's impossible". I called Sean. He wrote many letters. When I read the letters it was wonderful, I don't know how he did it, but he persuaded the consulate to accept my application to go to Sundance.
BBC Four: When do you expect to get the residency visa?
SP: I think February or March.
BBC Four: And what do you hope to do once you settle there?
SP: I would like to be a music teacher. I was born to be a teacher. I used to have many students in Iraq. I was a revolutionary of music in Iraq! But Saddam gave us only tears and sorrow and blood and death.
BBC Four: The scene when you watch Saddam on TV for his preliminary court hearing is one of the most powerful in the film. What did you think when you saw him on TV?
SP: Iraqis know what Saddam did. He caused thousands to die, so to try him is a comedy. He destroyed Iraq - the lives of 25 million people. He was a war monger. He tried to teach 12-year-old children how to use Kalashnikovs in their summer holidays, teach them how to fight. What do you get if you give children guns? You get criminals. He destroyed Iraqi society and now there is no one in Iraq who doesn't know how to use a gun. He doesn't need a trial: they need to execute him and finish him. As long as he is alive Iraq will have problems. I cannot say that all the problems will end if Saddam is executed, but it will get much, much better.
BBC Four: Would you like to return to live in Iraq one day?
SP: I like Iraq. I cannot forget it. We were living very good lives. Saddam and the Baath party destroyed everything. Saddam destroyed culture, he destroyed society. Iraq is a very beautiful country. The people were so happy. But this man was a criminal. Now Iraqi people are going around the world as refugees to escape the place. It makes me very sad...
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