Films on the ongoing war in Iraq
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document in English
film studies film studies
 
presentation
published 17/11/2008
 
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section Summary
 
 
Since the start of the U.S. war in Iraq in early 2003, the citizens of the world have been bombarded with news coverage the likes of which has never before been seen in the history of armed conflict. Likewise, the world of cinema has embraced the conflict in Iraq in many varied forms and with many different methods. Both narrative fiction and documentary films have been made on the subject of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Previously in Hollywood it has taken many years for a film to be made about a specific American conflict. The films made about Vietnam were not released until the late 1970’s. In more recent history we have seen films about the Gulf War made a few years after its end. In the case of the 2003 war on Iraq, however, films are being made while the conflict is ongoing. This is a unique situation in the history of cinema, and as such it is well worth exploring the wide range of films on the subject, both fiction and documentary. To this end it would be appropriate to take these films, in groups, by the specific aspects of the war with which they deal. In this way the distinctions between fiction and documentary will become clear, and may shed some light on the strengths and weaknesses of each in adequately representing the war in Iraq.
 
 

Table of Contents Films on the ongoing war in Iraq Table of Contents

 
  1. Iraq War films.
  2. Combat/ life in country films.
    1. Brian De Palma's 2007 film Redacted.
    2. Occupation: Dreamland.
  3. Films on soldiers returning home.
    1. In the Valley of Elah (Haggis, 2007).
    2. The Ground Truth.
    3. Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (1987).
  4. Political Films.
  5. Life of Iraqis films.
  6. Conclusions.
 
 
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