Syriana

Everything is connected.

Syriana is a political thriller that unfolds against the intrigues and corruption of the global oil industry. From the players’ back-room brokering deals in Washington to the men toiling in the oil fields of the Persian Gulf, the film’s multiple storylines weave together to illuminate the human consequences of the fierce pursuit of wealth and power.

As a career CIA operative, Bob Barnes (George Clooney) begins to uncover the disturbing truth about the work he has devoted his life to. An up-and-coming oil broker, Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) faces an unimaginable family tragedy and finds redemption in his partnership with an idealistic Gulf prince, Nasir Al-Subaai (Alexander Siddig).

A corporate lawyer, Bennett Holiday (Jeffrey Wright) faces a moral dilemma as he finesses the questionable merger of two powerful US oil companies, while across the globe, Wasim Ahmed Khan (Mazhar Munir), a disenfranchised Pakistani teenager, falls prey to the recruiting efforts of a charismatic cleric.

Each plays a small part in the vast and complex system that powers the industry, unaware of the explosive impact their lives will have upon the world.

Critic Reviews:

• " A complex thriller that challenges its audience with a fascinating story woven among several plot threads. " – Micheal Compton

• " Syriana is an American movie that reaches out beyond itself. Watching it made me feel hopeful – a rare sensation in a cinema. " – Zadie Smith

• " A film that treats its audience as adults, this is an extremely rewarding work that handsomely pays off the concentration required to watch it. " – James Mottram