Synopsis

Still from Life After the Fall

The story following a large mixed Baghdad family, shot in 2003-2007, struggling to accommodate the massive changes in their lives and city. It is told chronologically and juxtaposing the rhythms and concerns of everyday life with events of historical importance.

The heart of the film is the Abid family. Their personal story is a metaphor for the bigger picture of Iraq. The changes wrought in his family are a reflection of the enormous upheavals in Iraq since the end of Saddam’s rule.

The film is a layered, multigenerational story. Around Zeinab and Fatima are their parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents, each with his or her own trajectory. As the film unfolds, their mood gradually moves from hope to a growing sense of despair as the situation in the country becomes chaotic and the violence moves closer to them.

At the end of the film the whole family is falling apart…they are either leaving the country or have even been killed.

Biography

Director: Kasim Abid

Kasim Abid is a cameraman, director and producer of Iraqi origin. He holds Diploma in Arts from the Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad, and MA from Moscow Film Institute VGIK, and lives in London since 1982.

He worked as a cameraman for Channel 4, BBC and other British satellite stations. For six years he worked as the head of Documentary programmes at Arab channel MBC, followed by as the head of camera department at ANN. He directed and produced award-winning Naji Al Ali: Artist With Vision ( London Arab Film Festival 2000), and Life After The Fall (DocFest Munich 2008) .

In 2003, in co-operation with his colleagues, Kasim founded an Independent Film and TV College in Baghdad, where he conducts media training for Iraqi film-makers.