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Iraq in Fragments

Play trailer Poster for Iraq in Fragments 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

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Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic 02/05/2018
Longley is a film-maker of intelligence and empathy. Go to Full Review Marrit Ingman Austin Chronicle 03/17/2007
3.5/5
The technique is more expressionistic than naturalistic, but it makes the film far more vivid and emotionally satisfying. Go to Full Review Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution 03/08/2007
B
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. Go to Full Review Tricia Olszewski Washington City Paper 03/06/2008
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. Go to Full Review Sean P. Means Salt Lake Tribune 04/06/2007
3/4
Too bad James Longley couldn't have broadcast this insightful documentary immediately after he shot it in 2003 and 2004. Go to Full Review Brian Gibson Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta) 04/01/2007
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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05/24/2014 It is more interesting to watch this along with Iraq's Guns for Hire. See more 06/09/2013 Paste top 25 of decade #2 See more 04/01/2013 a pretty damning patchwork, low-key and intimate humanistic images of hope, chaos, youth, uncertainty. the kids were really cool See more 03/09/2013 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 :) See more 02/05/2012 A change of view from the people in Iraq. See more 01/06/2011 Yet more proof that the US needs to leave Iraq to itself. See more 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