FILMMAKER LOOKS TO CREATE LABALABA MOVIE

FORMER BRITISH ARMY SPECIAL AIR SERVICES

(SAS) SOLDIER TURNED FILMMAKER, TOM PETCH, IS LINING UP A FILM ABOUT TALAIASI LABALABA.

Talaiasi ‘Laba’ Labalaba died at the Battle of Mirbat in Oman in 1972 after holding off hundreds of insurgents for hours. Labalaba was part of a team of nine British SAS soldiers based outside Mirbat.

They were part of a secret military operation with a duty to protect the Sultan of Oman from a group of Marxist guerrillas.

One day before they were due to go home, the group were attacked.

Knowing the unit was hopelessly outnumbered, Labalaba ran hundreds of yards under fire to reach a 25-pounder artillery gun which is usually operated by four to six men.

Petch and producer Saba Kia are producing for UK outfit

Dark Wave Film.

The duo were recently at the EFM in Berlin to discuss the £5M-budgeted project with financiers and the movie is known to be generating interest.

The script comes from former soldier Alistair Martin.

The team is aiming to shoot in Wales and Morocco later this year.

LEONE CABENATABUA