Osman Ali Atto - Criticism of Film

Criticism of Film

In a 2002 interview with the BBC, Atto indicated that many aspects of the film Black Hawk Down, which depicts the events surrounding the Battle of Mogadishu, are factually incorrect. Among his criticisms, he took exception to the ostentatious character chosen to portray him; he does not look like the actor who played him, smoke cigars or wear earrings. Atto also stated that he was not consulted about the project or approached for permission, and that the film sequence re-enacting his arrest contained several inaccuracies:

First of all when I was caught on 21 September, I was only travelling with one Fiat 124, not three vehicles as it shows in the film And when the helicopter attacked, people were hurt, people were killed The car we were travelling in, (and) I have got proof, it was hit at least 50 times. And my colleague Ahmed Ali was injured on both legs I think it was not right, the way they portrayed both the individual and the action. It was not right.