Bagdad Rap
Watch the trailer
Screens: Sunday April 1st at 1:00 PM
DIRECTOR: Arturo Cisneros bio
Producer: Arturo Cisneros
Screenwriter: Santiago Alba Rico, Arturo Cisneros, & Mikel Larramendi
Music: Mikel Salas, Borja Alexandre, Guilleaume Marsan, Zenit, Case O, Sr. Rojo, Selektah Kolektiboa, Frank T, & Ari
World Sales: ARTSAIA S.L.
Genre: Documentary
Length: 76 min.
Country of Production: Spain
Year of Production: 2004
Languages: Arabic/English/Spanish with English Subtitles
Synopsis
A group of Spanish "brigadistas" share their experiences of the US invasion of Baghdad narrated to the rhythm of Spanish Hip Hop. Current news images are mixed with archival images, light, shadow & colors to submerge us in a world in which reality is definitively more frightening than the headlines & TV news. The film is an intense commentary on the global information machine of commercial television & a reflection on what happened in Baghdad on the eve of the US bombing of Iraq on March 20, 2003. Director Cisneros intertwines accounts from these courageous Spaniards with Iraqi teachers, US marines, & doctors who witnessed the atrocities of the US bombing first-hand. The filmmakers establish early on that commercial television has a "zombifying" effect on viewers & that any information can be altered & manipulated. The film provides a shocking commentary on both the US invasion of Iraq & the media.
Awards & Nominations
Best Documentary, New York International Independent Film & Video Festival, 2004
Gold Kitte Best Documentary, Festival de Cine para la Juventud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mario Gaitan‘s "Llora por tus Miserias" nominated for Goya Award for Best Original Song
Festivals
Emirates Film Competition 5th Edition
Festival de Cine para la Juventud, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
10th International Latino Film Festival, San Francisco
New York International Independent Film & Video Festival, 2004
Rome Independent Film Festival