Heavy Metal in Baghdad
| Heavy Metal in Baghdad | |
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| Directed by |
Suroosh Alvi Eddy Moretti |
| Produced by |
Spike Jonze (executive producer) Shane Smith Eddy Moretti Suroosh Alvi Monica Hampton |
| Written by | Bernardo Loyola Suroosh Alvi |
| Starring | Suroosh Alvi Firas Al Lateef Faisal Talal Marwan Reyad Tony Aziz |
| Music by | Acrassicauda |
| Distributed by | VBS.tv |
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Release date
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Running time
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84 minutes |
| Country | United States Canada |
| Language | English Arabic |
Heavy Metal in Baghdad is a 2007 rockumentary film following filmmakers Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi as they track down the Iraqi heavy metal band Acrassicauda amidst the Iraq War.
In 2003, the Iraqi heavy-metal band Acrassicauda was the subject of a Vice magazine article. With the magazine's help, they were able to stage a sell-out show in 2005 despite the recent ousting of Saddam Hussein. Filmmakers from Vice returned to Iraq in 2006 to track down the band. Upon their return they discovered the multitude of death and destruction, including rehearsing studios destroyed by bombs.
Candid interviews with the band members allows an insight into a sub section of society steeped in American pop culture and the hostilities this attracts.
The film was shot over three years. Filming locations included Baghdad and Erbil in Iraq, Beirut, Lebanon and Damascus, Syria. The film was distributed by VBS.tv, part of the Vice media conglomerate. During the filming it was revealed that the Syrian government did not intend to extend the visas of the band to stay in Syria; as a result, the filmmakers campaigned to raise funds to relocate the band in a safer country, rather than return to Iraq. In 2009, the band were resettled in the United States as refugees.
The film premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2007. This was followed by a 10 February screening at the Berlin International Film Festival. On 13 March 2008, it was screened at Greece's Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.
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