The Watchful Eyes: A Saudi-Backed Film and the Shadow of the Drug War
Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce has directed The Watchful Eyes, a feature film funded by a Saudi Arabian entertainment company, Sela. Backed by the country's sovereign wealth fund, the film is based on a real case from the Saudi Ministry of Interior's narcotics division and portrays drug enforcement officers as heroes.
Production and Release
The film began shooting in Saudi Arabia in December 2024 and is scheduled for release in 2025. Noyce described it as a "low-budget kidnapping thriller" shot entirely in Arabic.
The Saudi General Entertainment Authority Chair, Turki al-Sheikh, a royal adviser, accompanied Noyce to filming locations and prisons. Noyce stated that Sela did not interfere creatively during production.
The Human Rights Context
The film's release comes amid a stark reality. Saudi Arabia executed 356 people in 2024, with 243 of those for drug-related offenses. Analysts attribute the sharp increase in executions to the kingdom's declared "war on drugs."
- Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Reprieve, have criticized the film as an attempt to whitewash the country's human rights record.
- The film is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and develop its entertainment industry.
Reactions and Criticism
Joey Shea (Human Rights Watch) expressed concern that the film could "cover up the reality of executions."
Jeed Basyouni (Reprieve) called the film part of a "culture-washing" strategy to legitimize human rights abuses.
The Director's Perspective
Phillip Noyce said he accepted the job for the challenge and to investigate a "previously closed society." He did not address specific ethical questions about working with the Saudi regime.