Bittersweet Baghdad (2016)

Paying homage to the motherland, Alia Hassan makes a return to the ruins of Iraq - a once-revered socio-economic hub of glory and prosperity. Guided by his own family members, Alia follows the lives of those devastated by war, bloodshed and enmity as he embarks upon a quest to unveil the genuine sentiments that lie behind ostensible patriotism including opinions on government and in essence how people have survived post-bellum. A grounded and humble exploration of Baghdad, this short documentary makes for a beautifully entertaining and didactic watch as we soon understand that the US-led invasion pervaded all walks of life. And yet, amongst the wreckage of their country, is a society imbued with a passionate resistance towards hostility.