Iraqi Odyssey

While there are no precise statistics, it is estimated that four to five million Iraqis live outside Iraq today. Tracing the emigrations of his family over more than half a century, this riveting documentary epic from acclaimed expatriate Iraqi filmmaker Samir pays moving homage to the frustrated democratic dreams of a people successively plagued by the horrors of colonialism, dictatorship and foreign occupation. Weaving together the ironic, wistful, and witty testimonies of Samir’s relatives with rare documents from private and state archives, and Ottoman film footage, Iraqi Odyssey delivers a genuine people’s history of Iraq, and is at once humble and majestic.

Documentary written and directed by Samir
Switzerland / Germany / United Arab Emirates / Iraq 2014
DCP, 162 min.

For American audiences Iraqi Odyssey will be a revelation. Stephen Holden - New York Times
Iraqi Odyssey is one of the more breathless documentaries in recent memory. Sam Weisberg - Village Voice
A personal, insightful and beautifully made film... I was spellbound in front of the screen. E. Nina Rothe - Huffington Post