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Iraq in Fragments

Play trailer Poster for Iraq in Fragments Released Nov 8, 2006 1h 33m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
Iraq in Fragments

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

View All (65) Critics Reviews
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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (152) audience reviews
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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Iraq in Fragments

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Cast & Crew

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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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Iraq in Fragments

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Movie Info

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