Iraq in Fragments (2006)

Academy Awards, USA 2007

Nominated Oscar

Best Documentary, Features James Longley John Sinno

Typecast Releasing
Directed by James Longley
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Typecast Releasing)

The three primary divisions in Iraqi society are explained by the Iraqis themselves: Sunni, Shia and Kurds. Sunnis living in abject poverty in Baghdad struggle to make their daily living. A fatherless boy works in a filthy garage for his "boss", who beats him and questions the value of  his schooling. In southern Iraq, the Shia are fundamentalist Muslims who use the American invasion as a reason to organize politically. They vow non-violent resistance at meetings, yet are shown beating and arresting vendors selling alcohol at a local market. Finally, the Kurds living in the northern part of the country herd sheep and make bricks in gigantic ovens. They crave and independent state which will allow them to live in peace. All of these people share a common religion and a distrust, even hatred, of the Americans, who are portrayed as invaders and tyrants worse than Saddam. The film presents the Iraqi side of the story without commentary, which turns out to be both an asset and a liability: it sometimes feels more like a travelogue, prompting many questions but few answers.