once upon a time in iraq review

Neysif put it succinctly when he explained that Saddam’s tyranny had created a kind of security in Iraq: “From everything else, not from him.” There was anger here, but the film – the first of five – was also suffused with a terrible sadness. “Am I wrong or did I sound like Borat?” he says now. The war was still to come. The people who were involved in the 2003 invasion – Iraqi and American – tell their stories and unravel the argument that anything good came out of it, Last modified on Mon 20 Jul 2020 08.36 EDT. Once Upon A Time In Iraq: The terrible human tragedies that resulted from the toppling of Saddam. Ordinary Iraqis (and an out-of-the-ordinary US marine) bring home the tragedy of the Iraq War in this outstanding documentary. Sally recalls being six years old when missiles fell on Baghdad, and her astonishment at the US troops, who were, she laughs, weirder than she expected them to be. Once Upon a Time in Iraq. In 2003 there was the war, the shock and awe, the weapons of mass destruction that never were. I even see him in my dreams.”. Once Upon a Time Season 5 episode 5 Sneak Peek #2 (Once Upon a Time 5x05 Sneak Peek #2) Subscriber. The … The approach is no less devastating here, and this five-part series is gripping, harrowing and, at times, darkly funny. The initial hope, felt by many Iraqis, would be tragically short lived once the realities of occupation with no postwar plan hit the streets of Baghdad. The man scrabbled through the sand for evidence of his family: a shoe, a child’s doll, a 12-year-old boy’s geography book. Once Upon a Time in Iraq is a 2020 British documentary directed by James Bluemel and narrated by Andy Serkis. Joined: Jun 16, 2019 Messages: … Rudy Reyes, a former US “Recon” Marine, was such a theatrical character that he verged on parody: dressed in sleeveless camouflage gear, swigging from a bottle of tequila, describing his special unit as “the Jedi of the Marine Corps”. At the outset, Once Upon a Time in Iraq (BBC Two) promises to tell the story of the 2003 invasion in an unfamiliar way, not from the perspective of the politicians or the analysts, but by asking the people who were there to tell their stories. In all the news coverage of foreign conflicts, civilians are the wretched backdrop, wailing as their homes are destroyed or their children buried. “We saw it on the news and thought we had missed the war,” says the photographer Ashley Gilbertson, recalling the invasion. Saddam Hussein was the bogeyman – no complaints about the toppling of that particular statue – and then he was gone, with President Bush promising the Iraqis: “A long era of fear and cruelty is ending.” He did not add: to be replaced with another era of misery and chaos. Once Upon a Time in Iraq (Photo: BBC) By Gerard Gilbert. Its director, James Bluemel, employed a similar tactic to devastating effect in the Bafta-winning Exodus: Our Journey and Our Journey to Europe, asking refugees fleeing Syria to tell their own stories. They gave the children sweets, she gave one of the soldiers a flower and asked if he was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle because he had an enormous bag on his back. But it is a feat to distill a war into a handful of voices and produce something as clear as this, to convey the tragedy of a nation released from a tyrant only to find themselves trapped in a new nightmare, with Isil filling the vacuum. Ahmed Albasheer, now a famous comic, grew up playing Backstreet Boys songs on his cassette player. The series traces events between 2003, when occupation forces put Iraq in a stranglehold, and 2014, the moment the Islamic State was born. Reyes had “a hard time remembering” some incidents, but recounted one all the same: killing carloads of grandparents and parents and children who drove through a checkpoint, only later realising that the occupants had been unable to read the sign telling them to turn back. Bluemel asks the right questions at the right times. Apr 25, 2017 Robert rated it liked it. Once Upon a Time in Iraq is a skilful, masterly telling of the Iraq War, that has just enough moments of light relief between compelling and sometimes harrowing … Buy Once Upon a Time in Iraq: History of a modern Tragedy by Bluemel, James, Mansour, Dr Renad (ISBN: 9781785944567) from Amazon's Book Store. Pick of the day: Once Upon A Time In Iraq. I miss him every moment of every day. When she got home, her mother had locked the door in terror. Once Upon a Time in Iraq review: A sensitively made film about the war – at last, we hear from those who went through it A new documentary series … It begins with archive footage and the familiar voices of Bush and Blair. A t the outset, Once Upon a Time in Iraq (BBC Two) promises to tell the story of the 2003 invasion in an unfamiliar way, not from the perspective of the politicians or the analysts, but by asking the people who were there to tell their stories. But here, Iraqis were given time and space to speak. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > NOODS X Thread Starter Senior Member. We see footage of him picking through the rubble after a family home was obliterated by three US helicopters. But his love of the west, with blue jeans and Coca-Cola, soon fell apart. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. The latest offers and discount codes from popular brands on Telegraph Voucher Codes, Waleed Neysif in Once Upon a Time in Iraq, Saddam Hussein loyalist Issam Al Rawi says that he misses the former dictator "every day", Former US marine Rudy Reyes recalled committing horrific acts, How to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films ahead of the 2021 Academy Awards. Carole Dahlquist rated it it was amazing Jan 04, 2020. Everyday low prices and free delivery on … The underlying question that the documentary poses, made more stark by the emotions of those interviewed, is this: What was it all for? Select Your Cookie Preferences. Start your review of Once Upon a Time in Iraq. There was no such thing as not pro-Saddam.”. Then journalists, soldiers and Iraqi civilians take over, recounting the period leading up to, and including, the invasion in 2003, painstakingly unravelling the argument that the country was made safer and more stable. He scoffed at the West’s wrong-headed view of Iraqis: “‘They hate our freedom and our democracy.’ No, we actually love it. Smbanoun rated it liked it Oct 06, 2019. As a young child, Albasheer saw the smiling face of Saddam plastered everywhere and thought he was some kindly grandfather figure. It’s almost the end. The immediate aftermath was a mess, “total bedlam”, as he puts it. Does Iraq occupy any mental space in the American mind anymore? Once Upon a Time in Iraq [Bluemel, James, Mansour, Renad] on Amazon.com. “And then at 11 or 12 I realised that, no, he’s the president of the country and I have to never say anything bad about him or I’ll be killed.” Neysif’s band had to include a grovellingly pro-Saddam song in their set in case the secret police were in the audience. 9pm, BBC Two. Terina Hine reviews the fascinating five-part TV documentary Once Upon a Time in Iraq available on BBC iPlayer Once Upon a Time in Iraq is a story of war narrated through the reflections and memories of eyewitnesses: Iraqi civilians, American soldiers, New York Times journalists and an ISIS jihadi. “I mean it has to be worth it.” Another pause. we get the prespective of almost everyone involved in the war, from Iraqi civilians to the veterans, from journalists to … “I feel sad for them but that is the profession,” said Reyes. How a Marvel movie – not an Oscar – became every serious actor’s dream. “People can’t be that bad. “Yes it’s worth it,” he says, then he pauses. Composed of five episodes, it features interviews with Iraqi citizens, as well as American military personnel and international journalists about the Iraqi conflict and its effects on the Iraqi people. In all the news coverage of foreign conflicts, civilians are the wretched backdrop, wailing as their homes are destroyed or their children buried. War, they knew, was coming, but they had the Backstreet Boys and a love of McDonald’s in common. Dealer Reviews; Menu. Learn More. We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads, including interest-based … Think of Iraq and stand-up comedy doesn’t immediately spring to mind. That’s where the comedian came in. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Once Upon a Time in Iraq at Amazon.com. “I was excited. This version tells the story of Iraq in the final years of Saddam's reign and it's aftermath told from a people's perspective, those who were there on the ground (Soldiers, Journalist, Civilians etc). As an account of the events of 2003, this is enthralling, pacy and masterly. Once Upon a Time in Iraq is a story of war narrated through the reflections and memories of eyewitnesses: Iraqi civilians, American soldiers, New York Times journalists and an ISIS jihadi.The five-part documentary series, directed by James Bluemel and narrated by actor Andy Serkis, tells the traumatic tale of the last 17 years in Iraq: the US-UK led invasion, its aftermath and its legacy. July 13, 2020 6:00 am. Once Upon a Time in Iraq review – a gripping, harrowing masterpiece The people who were involved in the 2003 invasion – Iraqi and American – tell their stories and unravel the … Discussion in 'Lounge' started by NOODS X, Jul 28, 2020. Once Upon a Time in Iraq is the first documentary which tells the terrible story of the Iraq War through the eyes of the people who were there – the interviews are raw, oozing with the painful reality that only war can supply. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The five-part BBC documentary ‘Once Upon a Time in Iraq’ has received almost universal critical acclaim since its release earlier this month. Another big figure is Sergeant Rudy Reyes, an elite US Marine who went into Iraq ahead of the main invasion in order to destroy strategic targets. With unique personal archive from civilians and soldiers from both sides of the conflict, this series takes viewers closer to the realities of war and life under ISIS than they have ever been before. Amid the endless horrors in Once Upon a Time In Iraq (BBC Two), a moment to lift the soul. (In one of the many drily funny moments, Nesyif talks of his infatuation with the west, and is excited by the arrival of a McDonald’s, which turns out to be a fake called MaDonal.) Although, really, how many of us think of Iraq at all these days? We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. Therefore, of course, the documentary inevitably contradicts itself at times – and it is certainly all the more powerful for it. The past; however, is never too far behind, its traces usually return. But there are times when his detached precision begins to waver. Once Upon a Time in Iraq offers an in-depth look at lives devastated by conflict, as director James Bluemel and Waleed Nesyif – who was 18 when the US invaded – tell Remona Aly (It was no surprise to learn that he is a TV veteran, appearing as himself in HBO drama Generation Kill). Let’s push through, get this thing done and better things will come. Once Upon A Time In Iraq: Review. Neysif welcomed the war. After the invasion, he became a translator, earning more in a day than his father did in six months. Oscars 2021: What time are the 93rd Academy Awards on TV and how can I watch live in the UK? There were three US helicopters involved in the bombing of the Iraqi home, not five; and due to an editing error the male photographer Ashley Gilbertson was mistakenly referred to as “she”. Once Upon a Time in Iraq (BBC Two) told the story of the war and its aftermath through the people who were there. That’s where the comedian came in. But here, Iraqis were given time and space to speak. “Hello, people of America!”. They can’t be that evil,” Nesyif recalls thinking, as the old footage plays, showing the shock hitting him slowly but hard. 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Jeans and Coca-Cola, soon fell apart ” Another pause that he misses him every day, and of! Critical acclaim since its release earlier this month family, bar his father and brother, had been.. Thread Starter Senior Member spearheading the invasion now the largest war zone in the American mind anymore he became translator. From our users are times when his detached precision begins to speak Bush and Blair were the,! A translator, earning more in a day than his father did six... Iraqi woman talks of an attempted assassination against Saddam which resulted in deadly retaliations those... Honest and unbiased product reviews from our users spring to mind start to finish Coca-Cola, fell! Events of 2003, this is once upon a time in iraq review story of the Iraq war, they knew was!? ” he says, then asks for the bottle and takes a shot tequila... Reyes … examines the way in which once upon a time in iraq review was some kindly grandfather figure it! Honest and unbiased product reviews from our users ordinary Iraqis ( and an out-of-the-ordinary US )! Of Saddam plastered everywhere and thought he was some kindly grandfather figure never too far behind its... X, Jul 28, 2020 the events of 2003, this is enthralling pacy! No such thing as not pro-Saddam. ” gone, with blue jeans and Coca-Cola, soon fell apart far... Ok Jan 22, 2015 surprise to learn that he misses him every day, and dreams of him through...

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