Heavy Metal in Baghdad

2007 American rockumentary film

Heavy Metal in Baghdad

Directed by| Suroosh Alvi
Eddy Moretti
Written by| Bernardo Loyola
Suroosh Alvi
Produced by| Spike Jonze (executive producer)
Shane Smith
Eddy Moretti
Suroosh Alvi
Monica Hampton
Starring| Suroosh Alvi
Firas Al Lateef
Faisal Talal
Marwan Reyad
Tony Aziz
Music by| Acrassicauda
Distributed by| VBS.tv

Release dates

* 8 September 2007 (2007-09-08) (Toronto International Film Festival)
* 23 May 2008 (2008-05-23) (United States)

Running time

| 84 minutes
Countries| United States
Canada
Languages| 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.

## Synopsis

[edit]

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.[1]

## Production

[edit]

The film was shot over three years.[2] Filming locations included Baghdad and Erbil in Iraq, Beirut, Lebanon and Damascus, Syria.[3] 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.[4] In 2009, the band were resettled in the United States as refugees.[5]

## Release

[edit]

The film premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2007.[6] This was followed by a 10 February screening at the Berlin International Film Festival.[6] On 13 March 2008, it was screened at Greece's Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.[6]

It received an official theatrical release in the United States on 23 May 2008 and a limited theatrical release in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2008.[6]

The film has been screened at several other international film festivals, including Mexico's Expresión en Corto International Film Festival on 24 July 2008.[6] This was followed by a 21 September 2008 screening at Finland's Helsinki International Film Festival. Further European festival screenings in 2008 took place on 25 September at Iceland's Reykjavík International Film Festival,[6] 10 October screening at Belgium's Ghent International Film Festival[6] and Poland's Warsaw International Filmfest on 10 October also.[6]

### DVD

[edit]

The film was released on DVD in the United States on 10 June. The collector's edition includes over 90 minutes of bonus material. This includes a 45-minute featurette, seven additional and deleted scenes (live performances and interviews), an 8-page booklet including the original Vice magazine article "No War For Heavy Metal" as well as a teaser trailer.[7]

### Book

[edit]

A book accompanying the film was released in 2009, titled "Heavy Metal in Baghdad - The Story of Acrassicauda". The book was edited by Andy Capper, editor of Vice magazine in the UK and Europe. The book offers an oral history of the band's journey, made up of extended interviews with key members.

## Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 83% of 24 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Despite being a Gonzo-esque rockumentary following the fortunes of Iraq's one and only heavy metal band, Acrassicauda, Heavy Metal is actually a moving and impassioned account of the middle-east crisis."[8]

The New York Times praised the film as "An intrepid, unlikely and altogether splendid feat of D.I.Y. reportage...Both a stirring testament to the plight of cultural expression in Baghdad and a striking report on the refugee scene in Syria, this rock-doc like no other electrifies its genre and redefines headbanging as an act of hard-core courage."[9]

The Los Angeles Times described the film as "More than just another Iraq-doc, 'Heavy Metal' is a surprisingly up-close look at the toll of the war on young people, and how they still have dreams and still want to jam, party and get down. If 'Once' was about the romance of creativity, Heavy Metal in Baghdad is about the total, unrelenting obsession. They have no choice. They must rock."[10]

Reporting on film premiering at the 2007 TIFF, Rolling Stone described the film as "the most powerful music film" of the festival.[11]

The film also garnered favourable reactions from leading British publications such as The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian. The former praised the film in that it "brings home the cultural as well as the human violence meted out to that gorgeous capital more powerfully than many more exalted documentaries...Though they struggle to build a fan base, and end up seeking refuge in Syria, their dreams persist, still blazing fiercely at the close of this chastening and inspiring film."[12] The Guardian described the film as "fascinating".[13]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Heavy Metal in Baghdad Archived 2009-02-06 at the Wayback Machine TIFF
2. ^ Baghdad band on the run The Guardian. 28 September 2008
3. ^ Filming locations for Heavy Metal in Baghdad IMDB
4. ^ Iraqi Heavy Metal Band Asks for Help as They Fight to Survive Rolling Stone. 21 September 2007
5. ^ One Band Moves Its Metal Out of Iraq New York Times. 2 February 2009
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Release dates for Heavy Metal in Baghdad IMDB
7. ^ 'Heavy Metal In Baghdad' DVD Due Next Month Archived 2009-02-13 at the Wayback Machine Blabbermouth. 13 May 2008
8. ^ Heavy Metal In Baghdad (2008) Rotten Tomatoes
9. ^ (Movie Review) Heavy Metal in Baghdad (2007) New York Times. 23 May 2008
10. ^ Movie reviews Los Angeles Times
11. ^ From Joy Division to Bob Dylan to Metal in Iraq: Music Movies Rock Toronto Film Festival Rolling Stone. 14 September 2007
12. ^ Film reviews: Heavy Metal in Baghdad and Ashes of Time Daily Telegraph. 11 September 2008
13. ^ Heavy Metal in Baghdad The Guardian. 12 September 2008

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Heavy Metal in Baghdad at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Vice Media

Key people|

| Current|

* Suroosh Alvi (founder)
* Shane Smith (founder)
* Spike Jonze (creative director)

|

Past|

* Gavin McInnes (founder)
* Jesse Pearson (editor)
* Andy Capper (editor)
* Adam Gollner (editor)
* Alyssa Mastromonaco (Chief Operating Officer)
* Michael C. Moynihan (editor)
* Rocco Castoro (editor)

Properties|

* Vice
* VBS.tv
* Vice News
* Viceland / Vice TV
* Programs
* United States
* Australia (SBS Viceland)
* Canada (defunct)
* Fightland
* Garage Magazine
* i-D Magazine
* Refinery29

Filmography|

| Original
productions|

* The Vice Guide to Travel (2006)
* True Norwegian Black Metal (2007)
* Heavy Metal in Baghdad (2007)
* White Lightnin' (2009)
* Rule Britannia (2009)
* The Ride (2010)
* The Fourth Dimension (2012)
* Lil Bub & Friendz (2013)
* Reincarnated (2013)

|

Current Vice on
TV programming|

* Dark Side of Comedy (since 2022)
* Dark Side of the 2000s (since 2023)
* Dark Side of the 90s (since 2021)
* Dark Side of Reality TV (since 2024)
* Dark Side of the Ring (since 2019)

Former Vice on
TV programming|

* Beerland (2017)
* Balls Deep (2016)
* Black Market with Michael K. Williams (2016–22)
* Desus & Mero (2016–18)
* Fuck, That's Delicious (2016–18)
* Gaycation (2016–17)
* Hamilton's Pharmacopeia (2017–21)
* Huang's World (2016–17)
* My House (2018)
* Nirvanna the Band the Show (2017–18)
* Slutever (2018–19)
* Tales from the Territories (2022)
* Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch Ancient Aliens (2016–19)
* The Trixie & Katya Show (2017–18)
* Vice News Tonight (2020–23)
* Weediquette (2016–17)
* Who Killed WCW? (2024)

HBO shows|

* Vice (2013–18)
* Vice News Tonight (2016–19)

Showtime shows|

* Vice (2020-23)

* Category

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