Baghdad's film school - VPRO documentary - 2010
43In 2003, a few months after the liberation of Baghdad, two Iraqi filmmakers set out the plan to establish the first independent film school in Iraq. With a car full of equipment they undertook the dangerous journey from Amman to Baghdad and in March 2004 they opened the doors of their school. Opening a school in Baghdad means also to live with the fact that you might have to close it again due to the circumstances and the really unsafe surrounding.
The daily life of a group of students who try to realize their dream: to become a documentary filmmaker. How are they experiencing their life in Baghdad? How does the political situation and the dangerous surrounding influence them? And how is it to set up a school in a time, where people are dying every day?
Through the films that the young filmmakers make for their education, we see an unknown side of life in a country in chaos. Students are living in the most dangerous areas of Baghdad where not even journalists are permitted to enter. With a video diary a student films his daily life. We experience what it is like to live and work under the constant fear of bomb attacks and kidnappings, but are also witnessing moments of joy and pleasure. In a time of war the students keep to smile and make the best out of the situation. An every day life as we know it is not existing and orientation is difficult. How do students live with that fact and keep on learning? And how do the founders of the school surviving with the uncertain circumstances that are interfering with their work?
This is the story of the students and of the two school founders, who managed to keep things under control in the most difficult circumstances.
Originally broadcasted by VPRO in 2010.
© VPRO Backlight June 2010
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Credits:
Director: Shuchen Tan
English, French and Spanish subtitles: Ericsson.
French and Spanish subtitles are co-funded by European Union.