Curveball (film)

Curveball is a 2020 German-Austrian satirical film directed by Johannes Naber. The film is based on the real-life "Curveball" affair, which involved the fabricated intelligence provided by an Iraqi asylum seeker to the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND). This intelligence was then used by the United States to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, claiming Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

The film follows Arndt Wolf, a BND bio-weapons expert, who is desperate for a career boost. When he stumbles upon Rafid Alwan, codenamed "Curveball," an Iraqi informant claiming to have worked on mobile biological weapons labs, Wolf seizes the opportunity. Ignoring inconsistencies and red flags in Alwan's story, Wolf pushes the intelligence forward, ultimately leading to its dissemination to international intelligence agencies, including the CIA.

The film satirizes the political climate and intelligence failures that led to the Iraq War. It highlights the dangers of confirmation bias, the pressure to produce desired intelligence, and the consequences of relying on unreliable sources. It also explores the ethical dilemmas faced by intelligence officers and the potential for personal ambition to override professional integrity.

Curveball received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its sharp satire, strong performances, and its exploration of a significant historical event. It was nominated for several awards, including the German Film Award for Best Film.