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My Country, My Country
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My Country, My Country
IDFA 2022

My Country, My Country

Laura Poitras
United States
2006
90 min
Festival history

On 30 January 2005, two years after the American invasion, parliamentary elections were held in Iraq. In My Country, My Country, Laura Poitras documents the chaotic run-up to election day.

Poitras shows a country beset by violent attacks. The American occupiers, foreign election monitors and the Iraqis themselves all doubt it will be safe to go to the ballot box. A political party representing the country’s Sunni minority becomes the target of threats and decides to boycott the election.

The director worked with a great degree of freedom, and was able  to film at Abu Ghraib prison, for example, and at US Army briefings. Riyadh, a Sunni doctor, is the heart and soul of the film. When he decided to become a candidate he knew there was little chance of success, but the boycott means he’s got no hope at all—even members of his own family hardly dare to vote for him.

Credits
Director
Production
    Jocelyn Glatzer,
    Praxis Films
Music
    Kadim Al Sahir
    Kadim Al Sahir
World Sales
    CAT&Docs
    CAT&Docs

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