Flavors of Iraq

This mix of documentary and animation is a personal journey through the recent history of Iraq, based on the experiences of French-Iraqi journalist Feurat Alani. The film offers an intimate perspective on Alani's complex relationship with Iraq, the country of his parents' birth. Alani, who grew up in Paris, discovers the many facets of Iraq during his visits to the country under Saddam Hussein, the American occupation and the rise of the Islamic State between 1989 and 2017.

The film follows Alani’s journey from childhood to adulthood, and his growing awareness of the social and political realities of Iraq. With compelling storytelling and striking imagery, the film presents a Middle Eastern perspective on U.S. involvement in the region, from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. It also explores Alani’s connection to his revolutionary father, who was exiled from his homeland but never lost his love for it.

The film offers a personal insight into the recent history of Iraq, seen through the eyes of someone with a foot in both the Western and Arab worlds. Flavors of Iraq had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.