Synopsis
Chronicles of daily life in Iraq, before and after the American invasion of 2003. This powerful collective fresco has the breath of a slow-moving saga, like the river that flows through Baghdad. The tragedy and dignity of the Iraqi people emerge on screen in moments of great intensity. A work of reference for understanding the history and present of the Middle East. This second part, after the fall of the regime, is shot exclusively on location. Tongues are loosened and we discover a shattered people. The country is on fire. In the streets, incidents erupt and rival gangs clash.
A word from Tënk
One of the great strengths of Abbas Fahdel's film lies in the long, shared time he spends with those closest to him, paying careful attention to every detail. In this second installment, we are delighted to meet them again, as if they were old acquaintances. This suspended time establishes the tragedy, just as it outlines the motionless daily life of a country overwhelmed by war, which then appears to us in an incredibly close, almost familiar way. The food ration, the American tank race, the looters, Saddam Hussein's crimes, the threat, and finally death, have never suddenly seemed so concrete, so real. The time of "After the Battle" is still with us. And the wounds are still gaping.
Vladimir Léon
Filmmaker and producer
