Trailer for the documentary Iraq: War, Love, God & Madness.
Truth is stranger than fiction as we soon realize when we are voyeuristically lead on a personal journey into Iraq as film director Mohamed Al-Daradji and his crew attempt to shoot a film encircled by war and senseless violence.
It is 2007 and upon returning to Iraq to premiere his debut feature film, Mohamed summons the courage to look back over the last three turbulent years of his life as he pieces together the jigsaw of his experiences of filming in a war zone.
Back in 2004, undaunted by the volatile political, military dangers and heartbreaking chaos, Mohamed returns to his home, Baghdad that he fled years previously. The Iraq he once knew is no longer as he experiences the gritty aftermath of 35 years of dictatorship, 3 wars and the wake of occupation. Finding the once vibrant streets, now consumed by unemployment, poverty and madness, he strives to fulfill his dream and make his film in the country he loves. Challenged physically and emotionally by unimaginable circumstances and danger at every camera angle, with no money, just hope, the camera rolls on a world unraveling around him. A spectrum of society, previously sidelined by images of war, are introduced to the audience: a young child sings for Saddam, a father grieves for his hanged son, a young actor thinks back on his time in prison, whilst a troubled friend becomes lost in madness.
This film is crucial to our understanding of a nation at war and as Mohamed explores his country, we see the real Iraqi people and their spirit to survive, as never before. Struggling against persecution, imprisonment, injuries, terrorist attacks and the American army, Iraq is determined to survive.
This is Iraq's story; this is the people's story.