Iraq in Fragments Film Analysis

In the first third of the film, “Iraq in Fragments” we are shown effects on Iraq from the war through a unique perspective, a child’s. Through his eyes and narrations we are able to see and hear about what Iraqis think of Americans.

While watching the movie you can tell that Americans aren’t very popular in Iraq. They don’t agree with the war and want us out of there. The majority of the people on Iraq are poor and by bombing their cities we are taking away what little they actually have. One man even says, “I’ve never liked this thing from the start… Only the rich will benefit.” All of the wealthy Iraqis have fled and they think we are only there to get oil. If a country is bombing and sending troops into your country supposedly just to make money, it would be easy to harbor anger towards them.

In the beginning of the movie it gives a view of two different Iraq’s; one before American troops and one after. The main character, Muhammad said, “It was beautiful, the bridges, the river. Now there is nothing, it was so beautiful.” America is portrayed as the bad guy; bombing a poor country that has nothing. Some Iraqis preffered to be ruled by Saddam Hussein. One man even says, “Saddam took everything, the Americans will be worse. (Saddam) would never leave us in this situation.” We may be over there trying to help them in our own way, but it seems like that way isn’t working and the Iraqis don’t want us there.

This film is trying to open the eyes of America to what is really going on in Iraq. You know the situation is bad when you hear from a little child, “Our home trembled and shook. The war was overhead.” When the war is shown through the perspective of a child it makes it even more scary. In the end the boy says, “It’s not safe here. It is scary. There is no security.” This movie shows the effects of war and how much more severe they are that what we thought.