July 2, 2006

Iraq docs.

The Blood of My Brother "Lately, movie commentators have wondered whether audiences aren't tired of the material, as if reports from Iraq were just another genre, like Adam Sandler flicks or men-in-tights extravaganzas," writes Nathan Lee in a review of The Blood of My Brother for the New York Times. "The only question worth asking is what it will take to render this cinema obsolete." For the micro-genre of docs on the cost of the war paid by Iraqi civilians, it may be a while.

Joshua Land in the Voice: "[T]he subtitle, A Story of Death in Iraq, concisely captures its core subject: the brute facts of grief, suffering, and death in wartime." And Noel Murray at the AV Club: "Whatever The Blood Of My Brother's journalistic weaknesses, it's valuable as yet another view of what may end up being the most thoroughly documented war ever waged."

"[T]he film takes itself almost too seriously to bear. But if you will allow me, I intend that as a compliment," writes The Reeler. "[I]t is the first Iraq doc I have seen in which death permeates every frame."

It "captures a ground-level view of the sweat, dust, danger and chaos that typify daily life in American-occupied Iraq," adds Salon's Andrew O'Hehir. "Powerful as this film often is, it's also a bummer and something of an existential or psychological dead end: Do the Iraqis hate us because their lives have become boring, depressing and full of hassle?"

"It's not only the war in Iraq, but also in Afghanistan and more wars are coming. I am one of those Americans who doesn't feel that my views or interests are reflected by either of the two major political parties. But instead of sitting back and feeling hopeless I prefer to go out into the world and experience it myself, to see for myself what's really taking place." James Longley talks with the WSWS's Joanne Laurier about his award-winning doc, Iraq in Fragments; he's now working on a fourth segment of the film.

The Boston Phoenix's Peter Keough finds The War Tapes "the most harrowing, revelatory, and dubious documentary I have yet seen about the war in Iraq. Why dubious? It's the editing part I suspect, since the three accounts piece together to form a devastating indictment of the war and those responsible, a point of view that might not reflect that of the soldiers themselves." More from NPR's Michelle Norris.

Online viewing tip. Promo for Iraq: The Bloody Circus.



Bookmark and Share

Posted by dwhudson at July 2, 2006 3:55 PM

Comments

Perhaps people are tired of Iraq docs...which is difficult from the point of view of someone making such a film, like myself. Funding is pretty difficult because of this alone, and one wonders whether the making of such a project is worthwhile at all (i.e. will it be seen and who cares?)

I haven't exactly liked any of the Iraq docs I've seen, which is why working on the project I am doing makes things feel worthwhile. But I can't say that I'm not frustrated all of the time because of the sheer quantity of Iraq docs alone.

Posted by: M. Lieberman at July 2, 2006 6:03 PM

I hope this can offer a qualitative link to help inform of current documentaries concerning Iraq.

'In The Shadow Of The Palms-Iraq' is an Australian independent feature documentary that may be of interest. It 'raises the bar' of documentary practice and delivery, not only because it captures the lives of Iraqi civilians before the occupation (2003) but also in terms of the high level of production value for an independent work.

It has shown at Tiburon (California 2006) and won best documentary. It continues to show Internationally.

http:www.intheshadowofthepalms.com

Posted by: N.Wilson at July 2, 2006 7:32 PM

Well, Michael, it does look like Zig Zag Wanderer tells a unique story, and we can't have too many of those - if that comes across, it should find its audience.

And N, what a trailer! Thanks.

Posted by: David Hudson at July 3, 2006 1:13 AM