Iraq in Fragments

I love documentaries, and I want to make a point of blogging about them when I see them. Iraq in Fragments was my first documentary for 2008, and it was presented by Back to Democracy, a local group of progressive grassroots activists. The award-winning film presents three postwar Iraq perspectives, shown through the eyes of three ordinary Iraqis and through stunning scenes of both city and countryside.

Everyday life in Iraq goes on despite the devastation of the invasion, but I was struck by the sense of tension that seems to fill the streets, homes, and businesses. Not a tension between the people in the film, but a general feeling of uneasiness, perhaps brought about by the presence of soldiers and military vehicles in the streets, weapons drawn and ready. Or perhaps it was the frequent talk of change, struggle, and anger that many in the film expressed in their daily conversation, activities, and worship.

I realized as I watched how horrible it must be to live in a place where tomorrows are as uncertain as todays are difficult. One man in the film said, "today is better than tomorrow." Most Americans live in such comfort and luxury compared to the lives we've helped create for Iraqis. The everyday things we take for granted--education, leisure time, material goods, security--are luxuries in Iraq, where daily needs aren't always easy to fill and the future is very much an uncertainty. Politically, the country seems to be in a kind of infancy, with three groups each wanting something different. Some hope that everyone can work together; others want to see their point of view predominate. Raised voices, frustration, anger, hopes, and grudges all seem to be part of the dialog. At times, I felt that getting a government in place that would be just and fair to all Iraqis would be nearly impossible.

In nearly every scene, young boys mingled with the men (there were only a handful of women shown), listening intently to their words and watching everything that went on. Violent words and actions, funerals, religious services and rallies, and outright death--all of these took place before the eyes of children. What will become of them? What will the future look like when it emerges from a present painted with violence and despair? In the faces of the boys in the film were the features of men. Their expressions were thoughtful beyond their years. What must they think, never knowing peace in their lifetimes? I have not known peace in my lifetime either in some respects, but never has war come to my state, to my city, to my neighborhood, to my home. Never have I had to flee gunfire or look to the sky with alarm as a military helicopter passes over. Never have I had to wonder about the fate of my father or other relatives or go to work instead of school to support my mother and grandmother. No one should need to do this, and I am ashamed that the actions of my government have made that a reality for so many.

Even in translation, some of the thoughts and expressions of the people in the film were so moving. Dreams of beautiful places, peaceful futures, better lives, and a country to call home. Human desires that we all share. Many in Iraq are united by hatred against each other and against Americans. Yet the images of devastation, sadness, and unrest were interrupted time and again by scenes of laughter and smiles. The scene that showed young Kurds in a snowball fight made me laugh and smile, too. Whatever our differences, we are the same in these emotions. Smiles, laughter, and tears bring us together as human beings. That human element is the part of this film that stood out for me along with the feelings of despair, sadness, and bewilderment about what war has wrought.

There is much I need to learn about the history of the Middle East and the conflicts that rage in that region and in which my country is very much involved. Yet even without knowing all of that, I feel a connection to the people of those countries. I may not understand their religious fervor, but I feel what many of them feel in response to what happens in their lives. I hope that peace will arrive for all of us somehow, not through a corporate democracy or at the end of a gun but through a genuine desire for equality and justice for all.

Iraq in Fragments (2006)
Directed by James Longley