Baghdad on Fire

This film is an intimate and dramatic journey following Tiba, an Iraqi young woman fighting for freedom and equality. Twenty years has passed since the US-led invasion of Iraq and the fall of Saddam Hussein. On October 1st 2022 young men and women gather in thousands at Tahrir square in the middle of Baghdad to celebrate the 3 years anniversary of the largest youth demonstrations in the history of Iraq. They demonstrate against chaos, corruption and conflicts in the aftermath of the invasion. One of the demonstrators is 19-year-old Tiba.In this society that prevents the mixing of the sexes, men and women were standing side by side to fight for freedom and democratic change. This generation had had enough of militias, corrupt politicians, and foreign interference. They wanted Iraq to belong to them. And Tiba wanted to join her friends Yousif and Khader, along with thousands of other youngsters on the square, to demonstrate.The three friends started a medical team, spending days and nights together in their tent on Tahrir Square. They laugh, cry, are terrified and face danger, feeling the desire of youth for change and the strength of Iraqi women.As one of the leaders of the 2019 demonstrations Tiba chooses to continue her fight forfreedom, for a new Iraq and a better future, even though she’s traumatised and depressed because many people are leaving the demonstrations. At the same time, she’s trying to concentrate on her studies at home.The film follows Tiba’s transformation from forced marriage and abuse to a young woman fighting for her rights. She wants to study and have an independent job, and to fight for democracy and for a new generation being together in a different way. Will she manage this?

Other credits:

• Directed By: Karrar Al-Azzawi
• Writers: Karrar Al-Azzawi
• Producers: Jorgen Lorentzen, Nefise Ozkal Lorentzen
• Cinematographer/DOP: Mohammed Aziz, Hussein Monaf, Basher Salman
• Editor:: Morten Haslerud
• Other Credits: Composer: Simon Matthew Valentine, Sound Designer: Daniel Angyal, Colorist: Anders Hoft
• Cast: Tiba Fadhil, Yousif Satar, Khader Elias Taha