Iraq in Fragments

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Iraq in Fragments

2006

1h 33m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

65 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Filmmaker James Longley's documentary of occupied post-liberation Iraq presents three separate stories that together create a striking portrait of everyday life for average citizens in the war-torn nation. Longley discovers hope, religious dissent and ethnic unrest as he examines the lives of a young boy searching for a father figure in his abusive employer, Shiite Muslims looking to restore religious fundamentalism, and Kurdish farmers uncertain of their place in the new Iraq.

Critics Consensus

A stylistically bold, humanist take on the difficulties of post-invasion Iraq.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Longley is a film-maker of intelligence and empathy.

Feb 5, 2018

Full Review

Marrit Ingman

Austin Chronicle

The technique is more expressionistic than naturalistic, but it makes the film far more vivid and emotionally satisfying.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 17, 2007

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Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The film is both gritty and lyrical, showing how tanks share the Baghdad streets with donkeys as well as the quiet beauty of the Kurdish countryside.

Rated: B

Mar 8, 2007

Full Review

Tricia Olszewski

Washington City Paper

Visually, the director's flair is impressive. But Longley's clear intention of using children's faces to better tug at our heartstrings would be more admirable if it didn't feel as shamelessly staged.

Mar 6, 2008

Full Review

Sean P. Means

Salt Lake Tribune

Too bad James Longley couldn't have broadcast this insightful documentary immediately after he shot it in 2003 and 2004.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 6, 2007

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Brian Gibson

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

Bafflingly, the threats in an occupied country consistently come from within, not without or overhead: what has the effect of the US occupation and Hussein's vicious rule been on these people? Offers a fragmented, obscuring picture of Iraq.

Apr 1, 2007

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Audience Member

It is more interesting to watch this along with Iraq's Guns for Hire.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

Paste top 25 of decade #2

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

a pretty damning patchwork, low-key and intimate humanistic images of hope, chaos, youth, uncertainty. the kids were really cool

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great Story Telling For a Documentary, I Think James Longley Had Risk His Life To a Great Dangerous To Capture These Images, The Editing Made This Movie a 5 Stars Film :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A change of view from the people in Iraq.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

Yet more proof that the US needs to leave Iraq to itself.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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James Longley

Director

James Longley

Producer

John Sinno

Producer

James Longley

Cinematographer

James Longley

Film Editing

Billy McMillin

Film Editing

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Synopsis

Filmmaker James Longley's documentary of occupied post-liberation Iraq presents three separate stories that together create a striking portrait of everyday life for average citizens in the war-torn nation. Longley discovers hope, religious dissent and ethnic unrest as he examines the lives of a young boy searching for a father figure in his abusive employer, Shiite Muslims looking to restore religious fundamentalism, and Kurdish farmers uncertain of their place in the new Iraq.

Director: James Longley
Producer: James Longley, John Sinno
Distributor: Typecast Films
Production Co: HBO Films, Typecast Pictures, Daylight Factory
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 17, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.1K
Runtime: 1h 33m