:
Sinan Antoon,
Bassam Haddad,
Maya Mikdashi,
more...
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: Arab Film Distribution
: Documentary, Political & Social Issues, Iraq
: 90 min.
: English, Arabic
: English
System Requirements
|
|
In July of 2003, exiled writer and poet Sinan Antoon returned to his native Baghdad with a team of independent filmmakers, artists and activists to document the effects that decades of oppression, war, sanctions and occupation have had on his city. The result is a fascinating mosaic of opinions, perspectives, desires and memories that offers a picture far more complex than the limited one presented by mainstream media. About Baghdad pays tribute to the people of Baghdad as they struggle to come to terms with the tragic fate of their beloved city.
About Baghdad, which was a finalist in the first GreenCine Online Film Festival, was shot by the D.C.-based collective InCounter Productions and documents the return of Iraqi writer (and InCounter member) Sinan Antoon to the city after 12 years in exile. "While 24-hour cable-news commentators continue to blather non-stop about what it means for the Iraqi people to be free from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein," wrote Ken Fox in TV Guide, "this excellent documentary from Iraqi writer-turned-filmmaker Sinan Antoon presents their hopes and fears directly from the Iraqis themselves." The Christian Science Monitor called the film a "harrowing, informative, conscientiously balanced documentary about the social, cultural, and economic welfare of Baghdad and environs after Saddam Hussein's fall. It's hard to decide which are more saddening - the film's accounts of torture and oppression under the Hussein regime or the evidence of tragedy and privation under American occupation." In short, About Baghdad is a fascinating and important document that makes for incredibly compelling viewing.
|
| controversy on controversy
by RShigeta
July 23, 2006 - 1:27 PM PDT
|
|
|
2 out of 3 members found this review helpful
|
this is a rare documentary on how people in Iraq feel about the recent american presence/occupation whatever there. it is good to see the many stories that the crew has found and put together.
there are times when the director Sinan Antoon argues with his interviewers, which i've had enough of - he even looks a little like micheal moore. 'editorial documentaries' make me pretty sad and you can't tell how far the filmmakers wanted to go to get their agenda across. i'd really like to see people just telling their stories. the stories the film has are very interesting.
If someone wants to be well informed about anything as complex as the iraqi/american relationship probably should not stop with just this dvd.
|
|
|
GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.75)
32 Votes
add to list 
|
|
|
Your cart
© 2006 All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Movie Guide®,
a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.