My Country, My Country 

The director follows a Sunni Arab doctor as he prepares to run for the early 2005 elections in Iraq.

Director:

Laura Poitras

Stars:

Dr. Riyadh, Aaron Castle, Scott Farren-Price

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Dr. Riyadh	...	Self
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aaron Castle	...	Self
Scott Farren-Price	...	Self
Renato Gonclaves	...	Self
Andre Remmers	...	Self
Edward Robertson	...	Self
Kristopher Scarcliff	...	Self
Peter Towndrow	...	Self
Carlos Valenzuela	...	Self
Edward Wong	...	Self

Storyline

Six months in Iraq, culminating in the national election on January 30, 2005. We watch logistic preparations for the election, with UN, US, Australian, and local personnel unsure if the election will be held as scheduled, bracing for violence and for world attention. We also cut back and forth to Dr. Riyadh, a Sunni physician who practices at the Adhamiya Free Clinic and prays at the Abu Hanifa Mosque. He's an Iraqi Islamic Party candidate for the Baghdad Provincial Council; he visits Abu Ghraib prison and speaks out. We meet his wife and daughters: the family is cheerful, ironic, and droll. Will his party participate in the elections? Will he vote? Is his family safe?

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Plot Keywords:

election | sunni | iraq | iraqi islamic party | abu ghraib | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

After filming My Country, My Country, Poitras was placed on the United States Homeland Security watch list.

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Connections

Edited from My Country, My Country (2006)

User Reviews

This is the best Iraq documentary I've seen yet

This has heart and it doesn't take sides. It's a portrait of real people. It also portrays what life in a country that's been invaded and occupied by another country is like.

Nominated for a best documentary Oscar, this had no chance against the front runner. It is an obscure movie in spite of its nomination and it is difficult to find on IMDb unless one searches diligently and perseveres in the search.

Others have told you what this documentary is. It follows the family of one of the candidates in the 2005 election. You see what their day to day life is like in present day Baghdad.

Whether you believe we belong there or not, this is a must-see film.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site PBS [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

Kurdish English Arabic

Release Date:

2 June 2006 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Iraq

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,546, 6 August 2006

Gross USA:

$33,620

Company Credits

Production Co:

Independent Television Service (ITVS), Praxis Film Works, The American Documentary

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color