Voices From Iraq (1994)

• 82%
• 1994
• Documentary
• Miriam Ryle

Voices from Iraq', then, does not explore the murderous nature of the Iraqi regime. Instead it is a record of war and sanctions as viewed from Baghdad. It was a story that was never adequately told in the west and it makes uncomfortable viewing at times. It also represents an archive of a different kind. In February 2003 myself and my colleague Grant Wakefield were approached by NBC and asked if we had any footage of 'ordinary life' in Iraq. They had already been to the archives of the major US broadcasters and to the BBC, ITN etcetera. That they had to track down two obscure UK film makers to find what they needed reveals a telling fact: in the 13 years these organisations had crews permanently stationed in Baghdad, not one of them had ever filmed scenes from 'ordinary life' in a street, a market, a school, a home . . .