Complotto in cielo

"Based on a true story, 'Steal the Sky' stars Mariel Hemingway as the American-born Israeli spy Helen Mason. Sent to Iraq to coerce an Iraqi pilot into hijacking a Soviet jet for Israeli defense research, she seduces Munir Redfa (Ben Cross) in order to blackmail him - with unexpected results. Helen finds herself falling in love with him, endangering the mission, while he is torn between his love for her and his loyalty to Iraq," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis. New age artist Yanni provides the soundtrack.

A dull look at 1960s Middle-Eastern politics, seen through the filter of 1980s United States HBO-TV movie-making lenses. In hindsight, the focus on Iraq is interesting - who would have guessed, during the filming of "Steal the Sky", that the US would go to war with Iraq to find "Weapons of Mass Destruction" and make the country a Western-styled democracy? The best part of the story occurs near the end, after the hijacking. For his good work, Mr. Cross was nominated for a Cable ACE "Best Actor" award.

**** Steal the Sky (8/28/88) John Hancock ~ Mariel Hemmingway, Ben Cross, Sasson Gabai, Nicolas Surovy