Baghdad High

Back to the main review

What’s the Story?

BAGHDAD HIGH offers a very personal look at the lives of four young Iraqi men -- Mohammad, Anmar, Hayder, and Ali -- during their final year of secondary school in war-torn Baghdad. Using video cameras at home, in the car, and at Tariq bin Ziad School for Boys, the teen students film themselves hanging out with their friends, spending time with their families, and studying for their compulsory national exams ... all while living with the constant fear of being forcefully evicted from their homes, kidnapped, arrested, injured, and/or killed by bullets or terrorist bombs. They also use their cameras as video diaries, sharing their thoughts about what it's like to be on the verge of adulthood, their goals for their future, and what's happening to their country.

Is It Any Good?

This autobiographical-style documentary offers viewers a unique opportunity to look at life in Iraq through the eyes of a younger generation whose future is as uncertain as that of their own country. While these middle-class suburban teens think about girls, listen to Western music, text message friends and try to play soccer like David Beckham, their lives are far from carefree. Rising unemployment rates and the inability to plan for the future add to the growing loss of hope that they -- like most of Iraq's youth -- are experiencing. Meanwhile, Ali (who is Kurdish) and Anmar (who is Catholic) live in constant fear of sectarian persecution. And as if all that weren't enough, the boys have to pass their exams and graduate to have any chance of pursuing further education.

Baghdad High is both heartwarming and heartbreaking as it shows these ordinary Iraqi teens and their families trying to live a normal life in a world that seems to be crumbling around them. And it's a refreshing alternative to some of the extremist stereotypes that tend to pop up in the Western media. But most importantly, the movie provides a better understanding of what daily life is like for modern Iraqi teens by looking beyond the political, economic, and social chaos surrounding them and into their minds and hearts. All of this makes it an excellent viewing choice (and discussion starter) for teens and adults, but the intense subject matter, frequent discussion of violence, and strong language make it a bit too intense for younger viewers.