28/08/2015 - The movie by the Baghdad-born director will represent Switzerland at the Oscars in 2016, where it will aim to win Best Foreign-language Film

Iraqi Odyssey by Samir

Iraqi Odyssey [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Samir
film profile] by Samir, a director born in Baghdad in 1955 but raised in Switzerland, will represent Switzerland at the Oscars in 2016, where it will aim to win Best Foreign-language Film.

Iraqi Odyssey is an extraordinary ode to an often-misunderstood country riddled with stereotypes; a country scarred by war, whose landscape has been torn apart beyond recognition. Through the story of his family, the members of which live in exile, scattered all around the world, Samir depicts the odyssey of an entire people. With his documentary (which is bursting with 3D elements), Samir revives the very soul of a nation: an educated, secular and liberal country. This rich, captivating movie undoubtedly deserves to represent Switzerland in the race for the Oscar for Best Foreign-language Film. 

Iraqi Odyssey had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014 and was presented in the Panorama section of the Berlinale in January this year. It has had a very impressive run at the festivals: the film has been presented at such gatherings as Toronto, Solothurn and Abu Dhabi. Iraqi Odyssey is a co-production between Switzerland (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG, the production outfit run by Samir himself, and SRF), Germany and the United Arab Emirates, and is sold abroad by Autlook Filmsales. The German screening is scheduled for 24 September, while it is slated to be shown in Austria in mid-October.

(Translated from Italian)