Heavy Metal in Baghdad (2007)

In the late summer of 2006, in the middle of the insurgency, filmmakers Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi traveled to Baghdad to meet and interview the only heavy metal band in Iraq, ... See full summary »

Directors:

Suroosh Alvi, Eddy Moretti

Writers:

Suroosh Alvi (narration writer), Bernardo Loyola (narration writer)

Stars:

Firas Al-Lateef, Suroosh Alvi, Marwan Reyad

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Firas Al-Lateef	...	Himself
Suroosh Alvi	...	Himself
Marwan Reyad	...	Himself
Faisal Talal	...	Himself

Storyline

In the late summer of 2006, in the middle of the insurgency, filmmakers Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi traveled to Baghdad to meet and interview the only heavy metal band in Iraq, Acrassicauda. "Heavy Metal in Baghdad" is the story of the band and its members, young Iraqis whose lives have been distorted and displaced by years of continual warfare in their homeland. The filmmakers have collected glimpses into the struggles of Acrassicauda as they try to stay together and stay alive. Their struggle is the untold story of the hopes and dreams of an entire generation of young Iraqis.

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Plot Keywords:

heavy metal | iraq | damascus syria | syria | refugee | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

23 May 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Heavy Metal Bagdad

Filming Locations:

Baghdad, Iraq

Company Credits

Production Co:

VBS.TV,Vice Films

Technical Specs

Color:

Color (HDCAM)

Did You Know?

Quotes

Marwan Reyad: For six years, man, we've been like bounded to that store. I remember all that shit, dude. This is a quite impressing movie that you filmed down there. You know what? We feel sad. We feel terribly fucking sad. This is a fucking sad scenes. Tragedy scenes. Seeing the country that you grew up in and all the people that you know that don't live anymore. Right now dead. These are the things that you lay your back on. These are things that you turn off the TV whenever, or like change the channel ...

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Connections

Followed by Heavy Metal in Istanbul (2008)

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Soundtracks

The Final Countdown
Written by Joey Tempest
Performed by Acrassicauda
Courtesy of Screen Gems - EMI Music Inc.

User Reviews

More a film about humanity in war than 'heavy metal'

I found myself surprised to like a film about heavy metal this much. Just personal taste, but it's not music that usually speaks to me.

But this tragic, darkly comic, oddly triumphant and endearing look at a group of young Iraqis trying to keep their band together and play - in the middle of the insanity of war, and then later in exile in Syria - and also seeing the crazy bravery of the two young guys trying to make a film about them - has stuck in my head with very fond feelings.

By making the war and it's effects this personal I came away with a much deeper understanding than I might have from a film trying to cover the whole wide landscape.

I wasn't quite as moved on a second viewing with friends, but it's still a film I think of with tremendous warmth, and recommend whether you like heavy metal or not.