Once Upon a Time in Iraq
Once Upon a Time in Iraq is a 2020 British documentary directed by James Bluemel[1] and narrated by Andy Serkis.[2] It is a five part series[3] that interviews Iraqi citizens, as well as US military personnel and international journalists about the Iraqi conflict and its effects on the Iraqi people.[4]
The series chronologically covers: the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition that overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein, and its occupation of Iraq (2003–2011); the first phase of the insurgency (2003–2006); the Iraqi Civil War (2006–2008); the Post-U.S. withdrawal insurgency (2011–2013); and the War in Iraq (2013–2017)—an armed conflict between the Iraqi Army and its allies and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The first episode was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC 2, on Monday, 13 July 2020.[2] A single episode feature length version was broadcast in the United States by PBS as part of their Frontline series on July 14 2020.[5]
The series was widely acclaimed in the British press,[6][7][8] and won the award for best documentary[9] and the Golden Rose for outstanding series at the Rose d'Or international television awards festival in December 2020,[10] though was criticised[11] for an incomplete representation of the Iraqi experience throughout the initial conflict and its aftermath.
Appearances
- Nidhal Abed/Aswad[12][13]
- Alaa Adel[14]
- Ahmed Albasheer[15]
- Ahmad al-Matyouti
- Ibrahim al-Rawi
- Christian Dominguez[16]
- Dexter Filkins[17][18]
- Ashley Gilbertson[19][20]
- Um Ibrahim
- Ali Hussein Kadhim[21]
- Sally Mars[22]
- Lewis Miller[23]
- Susie Miller[24]
- Omar Mohammed[25]
- Waleed Nesyif[26]
- John Nixon[27]
- Rudy Reyes[28]
- Aliyah Khalaf Saleh
- Tahany Saleh[29]
- Nathan Sassaman[30]
- Sam Williams[31]
References
- Aly, Remona (July 13, 2020). "'No one is pure evil': the documentary bringing a human face to the Iraq war". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- Littlejohn, Georgina (July 13, 2020). "Everything you need to know about new BBC documentary series Once Upon a Time in Iraq". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- "Once Upon A Time in Iraq". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- Cooke, Rachel (August 10, 2020). "Why everyone must watch Once Upon A Time in Iraq". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- "Once Upon A Time In Iraq". FRONTLINE. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- O'Grady, Sean (July 13, 2020). "Once Upon a Time in Iraq review: A sensitively made film about the war – at last, we hear from those who went through it". The Independent. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- Nicholson, Rebecca (July 13, 2020). "Once Upon a Time in Iraq review – a gripping, harrowing masterpiece". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- Singh, Anita (August 10, 2020). "Once Upon A Time in Iraq, episode 5 review: this is the documentary series of the year". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- Morgan, Jillian (December 10, 2020). ""Once Upon A Time In Iraq" wins best doc honors at 2020 Rose d'Or Awards". reelscreen.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- "Rose d'Or 2020 winners announced – Rose d'Or Awards". Rose d'Or Official Site. December 9, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
- Tarzi, Nazli (July 29, 2020). "Once Upon A Time in Iraq: A harrowing but flawed narrative of a traumatised nation". The New Arab. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- "Once Upon a Time in Iraq: Fallujah". The BBC. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'". The BBC. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Once Upon a Time in Iraq: Insurgency". The BBC. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- Freeman, Colin (3 August 2020). "Ahmed Albasheer: if freedom of speech is under threat in the West, the rest of us will never have it". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'". The BBC. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- Midgley, Carol (21 July 2020). "Once Upon a Time in Iraq review — every head of state should watch this and learn". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- "Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'". The BBC. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- Nicholson, Rebecca (13 July 2020). "Once Upon a Time in Iraq review – a gripping, harrowing masterpiece". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'". The BBC. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Islamic State in Iraq: 'How I survived an IS massacre'". The BBC. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- Boghani, Priyanka (14 July 2020). "Four Iraqis on Searching For Hope 17 Years After the Iraq War". PBS. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'". The BBC. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'". The BBC. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "FRONTLINE Presents "Once Upon a Time in Iraq"— the Iraq War as You've Never Seen It Before". PBS. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- Kenny, Ursula (5 December 2020). "I got hundreds of messages after Once Upon a Time in Iraq". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Once Upon a Time in Iraq: Saddam". The BBC. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- Midgley, Carol (14 July 2020). "Once Upon a Time in Iraq review — a compelling look at war from street level". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- Boghani, Priyanka (14 July 2020). "Four Iraqis on Searching For Hope 17 Years After the Iraq War". PBS. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- Bluemel, James (13 July 2020). "I hope viewers will reflect on the fact that the invasion of Iraq was utterly pointless". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- "Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'". The BBC. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.