Iraq in Fragments (2006)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
12 wins & 8 nominations total
Iraq in Fragments is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the essence of a country torn apart by war and political turmoil. Director James Longley’s technique of using observation and revealing juxtapositions instead of interviews and voiceover commentary is a breath of fresh air in the documentary genre. The film is both gritty and lyrical, showcasing the chaos of Baghdad streets and the quiet beauty of the Kurdish countryside. Longley’s use of children’s faces to tug at our heartstrings may feel shamelessly staged to some, but it adds a layer of emotional depth to the film. Iraq in Fragments is a well-crafted, thoughtful study of the dueling divisiveness and hope that will define the region long after foreign troops leave.
Iraq in Fragments is a documentary that takes you on a journey through the lives of ordinary Iraqis. The film is both gritty and lyrical, showing how tanks share the Baghdad streets with donkeys as well as the quiet beauty of the Kurdish countryside. It’s like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with moments that tug at your heartstrings and others that leave you feeling hopeful. The director’s flair is impressive, and the film is well-crafted and thoughtful. Overall, it’s a timely and candid look at daily life in a post-invasion Iraq, and definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Horizon Pictures,
Distributor
Typecast Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Najaf, Iraq
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 33m
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Language(s):Kurdish, Arabic
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 2006 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Iraq in Fragments, documentary, Arabic, James Longley, John Sinno, post-invasion Iraq, hope, religious dissent, ethnic unrest, young boy, abusive employer, Shiite Muslims, religious fundamentalism, Kurdish farmers, occupied post-liberation Iraq, tanks, Baghdad streets, Kurdish countryside, war documentary, kaleidoscopic sense, ordinary Iraqis, stylistically bold, humanist, difficulties, foreign troops, dueling divisiveness, poetic form, extraordinary access, classic war documentary, imaginative editing, colors, stylistically bold, humanist, difficulties, foreign troops, dueling divisiveness, poetic form, extraordinary access, classic war documentary, imaginative editing, colors, reviewed by Stanley Kauffmann, Marrit Ingman, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Geoff Pevere, Liam Lacey, John Monaghan, Tricia Olszewski, Sean P Means, Brian Gibson, Larry Ratliff, directed by James Longley, produced by James Longley, John Sinno, music by James Longley, cinematographer James Longley, film editing by James Longley, starring James Longley
Worldwide gross: $240,888
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $345,088
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,824
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 37,632
US/Canada gross: $204,462
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $292,906
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,466
US/Canada opening weekend: $24,435
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $35,005
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,325
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
John Sinno – Producer
Director(s)
James Longley
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
James Longley, John Sinno
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
12 wins & 8 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (6)
Longley is a film-maker of intelligence and empathy.
February 5, 2018
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
The technique is more expressionistic than naturalistic, but it makes the film far more vivid and emotionally satisfying.
March 17, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film is both gritty and lyrical, showing how tanks share the Baghdad streets with donkeys as well as the quiet beauty of the Kurdish countryside.
March 8, 2007 | Rating: B
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Because [director] Longley uses a technique that forgoes interviews and voiceover commentary in favour of observation and revealing juxtapositions, his movie puts you both in the chaos and just above it.
February 24, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Stands up as a classic war documentary, in its unusual poetic form and by its extraordinary access to the lives of ordinary Iraqis.
February 23, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Iraq in Fragments sometimes feels random, but it is a well-crafted, thoughtful study of the dueling divisiveness and hope that will define the region long after foreign troops leave.
February 23, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Visually, the director’s flair is impressive. But Longley’s clear intention of using children’s faces to better tug at our heartstrings would be more admirable if it didn’t feel as shamelessly staged.
March 6, 2008
Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper
Too bad James Longley couldn’t have broadcast this insightful documentary immediately after he shot it in 2003 and 2004.
April 6, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Sean P. Means
Salt Lake Tribune
Bafflingly, the threats in an occupied country consistently come from within, not without or overhead: what has the effect of the US occupation and Hussein’s vicious rule been on these people? Offers a fragmented, obscuring picture of Iraq.
April 1, 2007
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)
Iraq in Fragments … appears to be asking a simple, but often unmentioned, question: Oh yeah, what about the people of Iraq?
March 30, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Larry Ratliff
San Antonio Express-News
A timely, lyrical and candid look at daily life in a post-invasion Iraq.
March 20, 2007 | Rating: A-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
The film is terrific at providing a kaleidoscopic sense of life unfolding, with imaginative editing and colors that seem to leap off the screen.
March 16, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star…
Plot
Iraq in Fragments is a documentary that presents three separate stories of everyday life for average citizens in post-invasion Iraq, exploring hope, religious dissent, and ethnic unrest.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Iraq in Fragments.
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