“Demonstrating again that independent filmmakers are increasingly filling a void left by our corporate-dominated media, Laura Poitras' illuminating documentary provides a vivid picture of the events surrounding the January 2005 Iraqi election.” - Hollywood Reporter

Working alone from within Iraq, American filmmaker Laura Poitras captured the agonising predicament and gradual descent of one man caught in the tragic contradictions of the US occupation of Iraq and its project to spread democracy in the Middle East. The story plays out over a six month time span through the eyes of Dr Riyadh, a medical doctor, devout Sunni Muslim, father of six and Sunni political candidate. Poitras says she was motivated by a sense of despair about the contradictions of the USA's project in Iraq - “I wanted to understand these contradictions from the perspective of the people living them, on the ground.”

The access Poitras was able to gain into the Sunni community is matched by her skill as a filmmaker. She avoids making cheap political points in this powerful mosaic of Iraqi life.

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D Laura Poitras P Laura Poitras, Jocelyn Glatzer WS Films Transit Int. L Arabic, English, Kurdish w/English subtitles TD 35mm/2006/90mins

Laura Poitras was born in Boston, USA, in 1964. Her films include Living the Legacy (1998, doco) and Flag Wars (2003, doco).