In this film, the scars left after 10 years of the Iraq War are exposed through the lives and voices of the citizens of Baghdad. After a decade since the beginning of the Iraq War in March 2003, more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians have become victims of the war. Freelance journalist entered Baghdad 10 days before the attack by U.S. forces on March 20, 2003 and met with Ali . In 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, and 2014 he visited Iraq to continue shooting and building friendships with Ali family. Some 200 hours of footage on the Iraq War was recorded. Through the images, words and experiences of usual life of them, he reveals the aftermath and the reality of the Iraq War.—Anonymous
In this film, the scars left after ten years of the Iraq War are depicted through the lives and voices of the citizens of Baghdad. Video journalist Takeharu Watai continuously recorded the war for ten years, starting two weeks prior to its commencement in March 2003. In March 2013, with only photos in hand, he revisited Baghdad in search of the Iraqi citizens he had met.—Anonymous
The Tigris River, which was the site of the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, still flows majestically through Baghdad, Iraq's capital.In March2003, the area around this river underwent intense airstrikes by U.S. and British forces. The U.S. armed forces gained control of Baghdad. Journalist Watai Takeharu witnessed the moment when the bronze statue of then-president Saddam Hussein was pulled down. The next day he saw many victims of the airstrikes at a city hospital. There he met 31-year-old Ali Saqban, whose home had been destroyed in the bombing. In his arms he was carrying his 5-year-old daughter Shahad, whose body was covered with blood.
In the course of following Ali's life, Watai learned that a new daughter, Fatima, had been born in 2004. Even while the war continued, Ali held on to a small hope. But tragedy struck again.In 2006 Ali's younger brother Rahed was shot and killed over religious rivalry. And in 2008 Ali was attacked in front of his food cart by an armed group and was shot to death at the age of 36. Six months after Ali's death, his son Yusef was born. Ali's wife Rosha took her children and returned to her parents' home. In 2013 only Ali's aged parents were left in the Saqban household. His father softly muttered, "If permitted I want to die now and be reunited with my sons." And then he told Watai, "Please remember about us forever."
Some people survived and many died after 10 years of war in Iraq. With only photographs in hand, Watai Takeharu returned to Iraq to search for the people he had previously encountered - both those who survived and those who did not.
