February 23, 2007
Iraq in Fragments
I cannot recommend a film I haven’t seen. But the high-definition trailer for Iraq in Fragments knocked me out of my chair.
Watch this on the biggest computer screen you have at the highest resolution. Use headphones so you can turn the volume up loud. Be amazed. I have watched this over and over again in quiet astonishment and awe of the gorgeous cinematography and artistry on display.
I’ll watch this one for the camera work alone, but also to learn more about these stories of Iraq’s people regardless of whatever political slant the director may (or may not) bring into the film:A stunningly photographed, poetically rendered documentary of Iraq today, seen through the eyes of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. James Longley's 3-part opus is a series of intimate, passionately felt portraits: a fatherless 11-year-old is apprenticed to a cruel owner of a Baghdad garage; Sadr followers in two Shiite cities rally for regional elections while enforcing Islamic law at the point of a gun; a family of Kurdish farmers welcomes the US presence, which has allowed them a measure of freedom previously denied.Posted by Michael J. Totten at February 23, 2007 05:38 PM
i believe, if im not mistaken, that this film is nominated for an oscar. should be interesting to see who will win in this catergory because it is up against some good contenders.
Posted by: buckeye at February 23, 2007 09:50 PMWhat a trailer, Look forward to seeing it.
Posted by: Macdara at February 24, 2007 02:52 AMI hope the film lives up to the promise of the trailer - the appeal is not just the beauty and the content of the shots, its also timing of the movements, the way the action is slowed and edited..
Great for a documentary, but about average for a good kung fu movie :-)
Posted by: mary at February 25, 2007 09:33 AMI actually went to see this movie tonight at a neighbourhood theatre in Toronto with an Iraqi friend of mine. Actually seeing Michael's post on this is what informed me of the movies existence nad inspired me to go see it. (Thank you Michael).
The movie basically brings you into the world of three Iraqis (one shia, one sunni, and one kurd), and gives you an interesting mix of the political and the everyday. Mostly it provides you with an amazing visual into that (or those) world(s). You may already know the politics, but when you see it from the perspective of one person and hear their narrative, it is very striking.
Again it is the visuals that do it. It is moving, striking, and chilling, both at different times, and all together.
I believe the movie treats the politics fairly and doesn't itself take much of a side.
My Baghdadi friend who usually has something to say, while not disputing the authenticity of the movie, was also rendered speechless. Even she saw a side of Iraq she hadn't seen before in such a visual fashion.
Overall, I suggest this powerful film to anybody who wants a visual insight into that country, and doesn't mind sitting through a somewhat slow moving (yet fascinating) and approx. 105min documentary.
Again, thank you Michael.
http://www.iraqinfragments.com/screenings/index.html
Posted by: Bryan at February 28, 2007 07:50 PMkeep on truckin' my brother
Posted by: joihn totten at March 9, 2007 04:51 AM
