"Complex, challenging, and affecting … About Baghdad is an altogether impressive and wide-ranging survey of the opinions, perspectives, desires and memories voiced by ordinary Baghdadis from many walks of life."
-- San Francisco Bay Guardian
AFD THEATRICAL is proud to announce the US release of About Baghdad with an engagement at New York City's Pioneer Theater (starting 12 January, 2005).
In July of 2003, exiled writer and poet Sinan Antoon returned to his native Baghdad with a team of independent filmmakers, artists and poets 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 US media.
About Baghdad has been a favorite at numerous international film festivals, including the Montreal World Film Festival, Cinemayaat: The Arab Film Festival of San Francisco, Arabian Sights Film Festival in Washington, DC and the Calgary International Film Festival.
From the directors:
About Baghdad is the first film made about Iraq after the fall of the Ba’ath regime in July 2003. It is also perhaps the first effort to privilege the voices of the Iraqi people, from all walks of life as well as social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. While many have talked about and for the Iraqi people, few media outlets have sought to probe beyond the simplistic binary of pro-US/pro-Saddam perspective so often found in Western and Arab media portrayals of Iraq. About Baghdad presents Iraqis who describe the pain, complexity and suffering of living under decades of tyranny, oppression, wars, sanctions and now occupation.
Silenced for so long by a regime that sought to replace the people with the image of just one man, and re-silenced by the bombs and occupation forces, the Iraqi people long to speak out and to claim their future. About Baghdad is a small step forward towards that goal in presenting Western audiences with their first opportunity to hear unadulterated Iraqi voices, voices that should be heard regardless of one’s perspective on the war and the justifications given for it. We found in Baghdad a people who are tired, traumatized and uncertain about their future, but a people who are united in their determination to re-build their nation.
North American bookings of About Baghdad will be handled by Alex Williams, Director of Sales and Promotion for AFD THEATRICAL. Call (206) 322-0882 x202 or email [email protected] for screeners, promotional materials, or for more information.
Visit the film's international website at: www.aboutbaghdad.com
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