top of page
Shadow in Baghdad
"A gut-wrenching documentary..."
The Baltimore Post Examiner
"The film's dialogue bridges generations ... and two countries in conflict."
The Times of Israel
Watch Movie
-
Read StorylineThe three Darwish brothers, who immigrated from Iraq to Israel in the 50’s, established the family factory “Fantasia” - a menorah factory. For a time period of 50 years they designed, manufactured and shipped Chanukah menorahs for the entire world and now…the family factory is about to close down. From this point in time, the director, who is the son of the youngest brother, is starting to embark on a journey that unravels the history of his family, going back 100 years. The story weaves memories from Iraq and Israel - two homelands, two languages, two identities, two enemies. The director is trying to reconstruct the narrative of his family, a narrative that has disappeared in the silence and shame that followed the family move to Israel. The father’s silence is finally broken by the director’s relentless inquiries, which reveal a story about 5 lost years of his father in the Iraqi prison. It is a diary film shot over a period of 10 years.
Documentary | Israel, Jordan, Iraq | 2013
70 min
Hebrew, Arabic
Subtitles: Hebrew, English, Arabic
This film had a strong audience in the Arab world. I feel it had a major impact, because it went out beyond Israeli borders and into the Arab world. It sparked a rare debate, in Iraq, and in the Jewish and non-Jewish Iraqi diaspora. This debate is the greatest reward for me, as I can feel the power of the documentary to touch people emotionally and intellectually. The success of any movie is founded on its ability to move people on from square one to square two.
Director: Duki Dror
Script: Galia Engelmayer Dror
Cinematography: Philippe Bellaiche
Editor: Chen Shelach
bottom of page