Life After the Fall

Synopsis

Life After the Fall is a unique insight into modern day Iraq, eloquently portrayed by Iraqi director Kasim Abid, who returned to his native country shortly after the fall of Saddam following an absence of 30 years. Shot over five years, this film shows the director reuniting with his family in 2003. They had survived dictatorship, war and sanctions and were ready for change.

As the film unfolds Abid’s family struggles against growing despair as the country falls apart and violence moves ever closer to them. What is most fascinating and different about the film is its rare perspective, so different from the usual Western viewpoints about Iraq. Through wonderful characters, we gain a real understanding of the issues that are facing Iraqi citizens on the ground.

About the director

Kasim Abid is a cameraman, director and producer of Iraqi origin.  He holds a Diploma in Arts from the Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad and a MA from the Moscow Film Institute VGIK, and has lived in London since 1982.  For six years he worked as the Head of Documentary Programmes at the Arab channel MBC.  In 2000 he directed the award winning Naji Al Ali: Artist With Vision. In 2003, in cooperation with his colleagues, Kasim founded an Independent Film & TV college in Baghdad, where he conducts media training for Iraqi filmmakers.

Previous films:

Amid the Alien Corn
Surda Checkpoint

According to the filmmakers

”On the one hand, I was compelled to make my film for personal reasons - it was my way of rediscovering my family, my city and my country after an absence of 30 years. But as an Iraqi living in the UK, I was also very frustrated with the media coverage of Iraq. Every night for 5 years now, it has been on our TV screens. But, in fact, all we see is explosions, smoke, fire, people crying, or politicians talking. We hardly ever seem to actually learn anything about the lived experience of ordinary Iraqis. They are not presented as real people. There are almost never any real Iraqi voices, speaking for themselves. I felt it was important for people in this country (and elsewhere) to be able to relate to Iraqis as real people, people like themselves.”

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