Baghdad 2003: confusion, uncertainty and death engulf the bombed ruins of a psychiatric asylum. Voyeuristically we move between the past and present of three Iraqi lives entangled by the chaos of the American 'Shock and Awe' campaign: Ahlaam a bewildered young woman, confined to the asylum after witnessing the violent arrest of her fiancé on their wedding day, deeply bruised she lives a existence of delusion with only a dream...
Dr. Medhi, a hard working idealist, exiled to work at the institution, longs for a free Iraq, where the human quest for truth and goodness will triumph over the brutality he witnesses. Ali, a patient and former soldier, once a proudly optimistic man eager to serve his country, now a shell-shocked shadow, traumatized by the American bombings. Ali’s fearless insanity may be the hospital’s only hope as he roams the terrorised streets for surviving patients.

Screenplay Mohamed Al-Daradji
Photography (colour) Mohamed Al-Daradji
Editing Ghassan Abdullah, Ian Watson
Music Naseir Shamma
Sound Sefi Carmel
Cast Aseel Adel, Bashir Al-Majid, Mohamed Hashim, Kaheel Khalid, Talib Al-Furati
Production Mohamed Al-Daradji
Year of production 2006
Running time 110’
Format 35 mm

Mohamed Al-Daradji

Mohamed Al-Daradji was born in Baghdad in 1978. At the age of 15 he started studying Theatre Directing at the Fine Art Institute in Baghdad. After moving to Europe, he continued his studies in Holland at the Media Academy in Hilversem at Leeds Metropolitan University School of Art.
He specialized in Camera and cinematography. He worked as a cameraman for the TV industry in Holland. Mohamed Al-Daradji has been the director of photography of nine short films, a music video and two commercials, obtaining, for Comfort Hospital, the prestigious Kodak Commercial Award. He has directed his first feature film, Ahlaam, and is now about to finish his first full-length documentary, Shooting in Iraq. He is Iraqi and Dutch citizen.