Homeland Film Difficulty Ranking: 3
How much do you know about the Iraq War? You may know that it was a war between the U.S. and it’s allies and Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein and bring democracy. However, that’s just the account that you’ve probably been exposed to. Homeland is your chance to see the Iraqi perspective. Through the home footage of Abbas Fahdel’s family maybe your view of the war and it’s intentions may change.
Why Watch Homeland: Iraq Year Zero?
- Because this is one of the only ways you can experience life in Iraq before the Iraq War started in 2003
- You’ll pretty much become part of an Iraqi family for close to 6 hours
- To hear some of the best stories, all from the simple act of people watching
- You’ve seen Ahlaam or The Journey and want to see some real footage of life in Iraq to compliment these great fictional films
The Breakdown
You’ll join director Abbas Fahdel’s family in Iraq as soon as this film starts as if you’ve always been a part of his family. His nephew, Haidar, is watching a piece of state propaganda referring to Saddam Hussein as ‘our beloved leader.’
Outside of the short interruptions of unsubtle state propaganda on TV, life in Iraq is very familiar. Haidar and his friends are just like any other kids of their age, playing fun pretend war games and fooling around. Similarly, adult life goes on normally. People talk to their neighbours, go to the market to buy provisions, and spend a lot of time with their family.
However, their normal lives slowly disappear as the American invasion gets closer and closer. They all start preparing for war: stocking up provisions, preparing water pumps, and moving to the country in attempts to get out of the war zone. Then the war hits. You’ll then experience what it was like to live in the Iraq War. You’ll hear injustices, you’ll see cultural buildings ruthlessly bombed, and you’ll also witness the resilience of the Iraqi people.
Conclusion
Homeland: Iraq Year Zero is the film to watch to get a first-hand account of the Iraq War from the Iraqi perspective. You’ll get to experience how life was before the war and also how life changed when the war started.
It is less biased than you might expect because it is solely home footage rather than a more opinionated narrated documentary. But it’s a strong statement against war.
he shows his niece and nephews watching television one morning; a piece of state propaganda referring to Hussein as “Beloved Leader” soon gives way to a Looney Tune cartoon featuring Foghorn Leghorn.
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