Backdrop fallback

Once Upon a Time in Iraq

Once Upon a Time in Iraq

Share

Once Upon a Time in Iraq

2020

1h 50m

8.0(1 votes)

Documentary

Overview

Civilians, journalists and soldiers from both sides of the conflict explain their experience during the Iraq War, from the 2003 invasion through the 17 years that followed. Edited version from "Once Upon a Time in Iraq" (2020)

Links & Resources

Website IMDbView

Social & External

Production Companies

PBS

The people behind it

Cast & crew

4 featured cast members

Starring

Priyanka Boghani

self

Sarah Childress

self

Katie Worth

self

Will Lyman

Will Lyman

Self - Narrator (voice)

Creative team

Directed by: James Bluemel
Produced by: Jo Abel
Daffodil Altan

Similar Movies

Où est l’eldorado?

Où est l’eldorado?

A filmmaker's search for Yambo Ouologuem, a once famous writer who no longer wants to see any white people. Along the way, he meets five university students interested in the relationship between Africa and the West and who question the desire to go somewhere else, to leave the country and with it the culture that is theirs and their parents'.

Archetype - Petar Meseldžija: The Life and Work of an Artist

Archetype - Petar Meseldžija: The Life and Work of an Artist

A documentary about the painter Petar Meseldžija.

Hidden Japan

Hidden Japan

The culture of Japan is incredible, from bloom festivals to ultra-modern cities. But there are also more than 130 mammals and 600 bird species dwelling in Japan’s 6852 islands. This island chain is long enough to span climate zones, providing a huge range of habitat.

Tukdam – Between Worlds

Tukdam – Between Worlds

Most of us think of death as something clear-cut, and that medical science has it neatly figured out. This feature documentary explodes such assumptions through its exploration of a phenomenon that blurs life and death to an unprecedented degree. In what Tibetan Buddhists call tukdam, advanced meditators die in a consciously controlled manner. Though dead according to our biomedical standards, they often stay sitting upright in meditation; remarkably, their bodies remain fresh and lifelike, without signs of decay for days, sometimes weeks after clinical death. Following ground-breaking scientific research into tukdam and taking us into intimate death stories of Tibetan meditators, the film juxtaposes scientific and Tibetan perspectives as it tries to unravel the mystery of tukdam.

ROGER, MY BROTHER

ROGER, MY BROTHER

ROGER, MY BROTHER immerses us in the moving story of Christiane, who is devoted to caring for her brother Roger, who has Alzheimer's disease. Her tireless commitment allows Roger to avoid being placed in a nursing home despite the challenges. At the heart of this sibling relationship lies an unbreakable bond of love, demonstrating human resilience and the strength of family ties. This film celebrates the dignity, compassion, and determination that drive the bond between brother and sister, offering a profound reflection on love's ability to overcome the most insurmountable obstacles.

Lost Men

Lost Men

My grandfather, married for 57 years in Costa Rica, died in a fire in 2019. My father revealed to me that, like myself, my grandfather was gay. After this revelation, together we revisit my grandfather's life, seeking to give him one last act of liberation while discovering ourselves in the process.

Hitler's 9/11

Hitler's 9/11

Adolf Hitler's Nazi megalomania knew no limits. The most daring of his plans World War II involved German fighter planes crashing into Manhattan's skyscrapers as living bombs, like the Japanese kamikazes. Hitler understood the huge symbolic power of Manhattan's skyscrapers. He believed suicide bombing would have a devastating psychological impact on the American people and the U.S. war effort.

Fahrenheit 9/11

Fahrenheit 9/11

Michael Moore's view on how the Bush administration allegedly used the tragic events on 9/11 to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Flick: A Fingerboarding Story

Flick: A Fingerboarding Story

An ambitious entrepreneur and other fingerboarders reflect on how the fingerboarding community has impacted their lives as they come together for the very first national fingerboarding championship.

A Little Love

A Little Love

Through interspersed conversation and prose, this experimental documentary follows a poet and a neuroscientist as they explore the definition of love, what it means, and why it matters.

Robert Shields: My Life as a Robot

Robert Shields: My Life as a Robot

Award Winning Documentary on the Life of Artist Robert Shields. “Robert Shields: My Life as a Robot” is a documentary that will make you believe that your actions can have an inspirational effect on so many lives - and you may not even be aware of it. An icon of the 70’s, Robert began his career doing his robot in front of the Hollywood Wax Museum and a few short years later had his own top rated Prime Time CBS Variety show with his beautiful wife Lorene called: “The Shields & Yarnell Show”. And along the way, unbeknownst to him, he created ripples that define an art form to this day. This film may not save the environment, it won’t take on a corrupt corporation nor will it make you write your congress person. What it will do is make you laugh, bring you wonder and joy and introduce you to a man who makes you believe that anything is possible… including (and don’t try this at home!) Street Skiing in downtown San Francisco!

Camilo: The Long Road to Disobedience

Camilo: The Long Road to Disobedience

The award-winning filmmaker Peter Lilienthal is dedicated to this extremely poignant documentary of U.S. military policy and the living conditions of former resistance fighters in Latin America.

Hunan: The Other World of Avatar

How China's magical Zhangjiajie National Park attracted director James Cameron, who came seeking inspiration for a mysterious fictional planet.

An American Story: Race Amity and The Other Tradition

An American Story: Race Amity and The Other Tradition

In contrast to the lens that focuses exclusively on the racist traditions that are rooted in America’s social history, the moral counterweight of close, loving, friendship and collaboration, which have always been present in our history, represents “the other tradition.” This “other tradition” is a source of inspiration and presents models of behavior that are instructional and include unknown and uncelebrated legacies to be absorbed and emulated across generations of present day Americans. The documentary discusses the “better in us” a needed collective perspective in the current climate of national disunity across racial, religious, and political lines. This has significant implications for addressing public issues from immigration to health care and the myriad of governmental, educational, business, and religious challenges that we must successfully meet to weave the fabric of unity which is indispensable to survival as a nation.

SHINE

SHINE

SHINE tells the story of Mike Straughter, the owner of Chase Shoe Shine Parlor in Houston’s historic Third Ward — a neighborhood long regarded as a cradle of civil rights activism and cornerstone of African American culture. For more than two decades, Mike has offered far more than a shine — he’s created a gathering place where people from all walks of life find belonging, conversation, and kindness. His shop has grown into a quiet engine of community outreach, where customers roll up their sleeves alongside him to help people in need. An intimate, character-driven documentary, SHINE captures the quiet influence of a man rooted deeply in his neighborhood — a reminder that human connection still matters and can grow in the most unexpected places.

Bala

Bala

A documentary about the aging prima ballerina Balasaraswati (popularly known as "Bala"), the most famous exponent of the Bharatanatyam dance.

A Way made for Two

A Way made for Two

Segismundo Morey has spent his last few years facing the challenges imposed by Andrade’s rare disease. This medical condition, which affects his nervous and muscular system, has left a deep mark on his daily life and that of those around him. Over the years, Segismundo has had to overcome physical and emotional obstacles, dealing with difficulties in walking and moving normally. However, despite the constant challenges, he has found comfort and strength in the unconditional love and support of his family. Together, they have faced the adversities of Andrade’s disease, forming an indestructible bond that has been key in their shared journey.

Deep Inside Vinegar Syndrome

Deep Inside Vinegar Syndrome

This documentary takes you on a brief walkthrough of the Vinegar Syndrome headquarters in Bridgeport, CT. Included with the "Lost Picture Show" box set.

Squirrelly Man

Squirrelly Man

Squirrelly Man follows the journey of Teddy Treadwell, a young Squirrel Enthusiast who stays in the local park district trying to protect the squirrels. Teddy finds himself spending many summers with the squirrels before he makes the mistake of sticking his head near a trash can. When this occurs, Teddy is attacked by a squirrel and needs to be taken to the hospital as soon as possible.

Once Upon a Vilnius

Once Upon a Vilnius

Vilnius is a city of notable historical heritage and unique character currently undergoing considerable changes. Some of the life fragments our camera has recorded are no more. The film, therefore, is a testimony to that which has faded into oblivion, and a glimpse into what is to come.

Recommended Movies

For Sama

For Sama

A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her. Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice– whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.

City of Ghosts

City of Ghosts

With unprecedented access, this documentary follows the extraordinary journey of “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently”—a group of anonymous citizen journalists who banded together after their homeland was overtaken by ISIS—as they risk their lives to stand up against one of the greatest evils in the world today.

2000 Meters to Andriivka

2000 Meters to Andriivka

Amid the failing counteroffensive, a journalist follows a Ukrainian platoon on their mission to traverse one mile of heavily fortified forest and liberate a strategic village from Russian occupation. But the farther they advance through their destroyed homeland, the more they realize that this war may never end.

Naqoyqatsi

Naqoyqatsi

A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.

Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity

Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity

A deep dive into the making of the Paranormal Activity films with first time ever interviews with cast and crew, never-before-seen footage from the movies, and a preview of the seventh installment in the franchise.

Fuck

Fuck

A documentary on the expletive's origin, why it offends some people so deeply, and what can be gained from its use.

20 Days in Mariupol

20 Days in Mariupol

As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.

Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed

Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed

The special focuses on how Star Wars is relevant today and the history that inspired it, and also makes various connections to Greek mythology. It consists of several interviews with well-known politicians, journalists, and critics, along with historical content and clips from all six of the Star Wars movies.

The Curse of the Dragon

The Curse of the Dragon

A 1993 documentary film about Bruce Lee. The film includes interviews from some of his fellow students and opponents who worked alongside him in his movies.

I Am Ali

I Am Ali

Unprecedented access to Muhammad Ali's personal archive of "audio journals" as well as interviews and testimonials from his inner circle of family and friends are used to tell the legend's life story.

Capital in the Twenty-First Century

Capital in the Twenty-First Century

Film adaptation of French economist Thomas Piketty's ground-breaking global bestseller of the same name: an eye-opening journey through wealth and power.

9/11: Inside the President's War Room

9/11: Inside the President's War Room

Experience the events of September 11, 2001 through the eyes of President Bush and his closest advisors as they personally detail the crucial hours and key decisions from that historic day.

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

An impressionistic portrait of the iconic actor Harry Dean Stanton comprised of intimate moments, film clips from some of his 250 films and his renditions of American folk songs.

42 Up

42 Up

Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

The Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends

The Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends

This documentary focuses on the actors and their journey over two summers to create the remake to the original IT, by Stephen King. The documentary originally released as bonus material, bundled with IT: Chapter Two.

Fahrenheit 9/11

Fahrenheit 9/11

Michael Moore's view on how the Bush administration allegedly used the tragic events on 9/11 to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Godfather Family: A Look Inside

The Godfather Family: A Look Inside

A documentary on the making of the three Godfather films, with interviews and recollections from the film makers and cast. This feature also includes the original screen tests of some of the actors for "The Godfather" film, and some candid moments on the set of "The Godfather: Part III."

9/11

9/11

An on-the-scene documentary following the events of September 11, 2001 from an insider's view, through the lens of two French filmmakers who simply set out to make a movie about a rookie NYC fireman and ended up filming the tragic event that changed our lives forever.

The Skywalker Legacy

The Skywalker Legacy

The story lives forever in this feature-length documentary that charts the making of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The Class of ‘92

The Class of ‘92

A detailing of the rise to prominence and global sporting superstardom of six supremely talented young Manchester United football players (David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville). The film covers the period 1992-1999, culminating in Manchester United's European Cup triumph.