Tribeca Review: War, Love, God and Madness

Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 27, 2008

Director Mohammad Al-Dardji is a man who believes in the power of art to transcend tragedy. In 2003 he put this to the test when he left London where he’d studied film to return to war torn Iraq to make a film.

For Mohammad the very act of making a film was a way of bringing his shattered Iraq back to life. It was a sign of hope that life could return to something resembling normal. His film, Ahlaam Dreams about three people scarred by war, would not be made easily. His decision to film it on location on the streets of Baghdad was a risky one. Forget expensive stars who want bottled water and trailers. He had to contend with suspicious Iraqi officials, cautious US military, reluctant actors afraid for their lives, bombs, missiles, gun fire, checkpoints and the overall chaos of a war zone.

But he didn’t give up. He fought for his film because in his heart it was like planting a seed of hope for the people of Iraq and the family he’s left behind. The film also gives a close up look at the daily lives of Iraqis who live surrounded by threats, by the risk of death at any time, but who strive to live as normal a life as possible.

This isn’t just a film about making a film, but a film about not letting go of your dreams even when circumstances are at their worst. At one point members of his crew, which included two teenage sound engineers, were kidnapped by terrorists, escaping only to be picked up by US military who interrogated them for five days. The were finally released, the youngest, fifteen had been shot in the leg by the kidnappers. But they all survived the ordeal.

Even with this near tragic event, the film maker pushed on and finished his film. The director was at the screening and talked about why he made not only “Ahlaam Dreams” but this documentary about the experience of creating a film in a country torn apart by war. It’s a country with only four working cinemas.

Mohammad Al-Dardji is a man committed to his country and to the art of film. He has a deep belief it is a way for his country to survive, heal and thrive. His love of his art and his country is reflected in this film and it’s definitely worth seeing.

His film “Ahlaam Dreams” was shown in Baghdad and at numerous film festivals. The director is planning another film to be made in Iraq.

Read more articles by Robin Ruinsky