Iraqi Short Films Mauro Andrizzi, Argentina

“This creed of the desert seemed inexpressible in words, and indeed in thought. It was easily felt as an influence, and those who went into the desert long enough to forget its spaces and its emptiness were inevitably thrust upon God as the only refuge and rhythm of being.” These words of British soldier T. H. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, features in Iraqi Short Films, by the Argentinean Mauro Andrizzi, a compilation of footage shot by Iraqi militias, American soldiers and private security forces. Lawrence of Arabia fought with the Arabs against the Turks during the First World War, thus protecting British interests. Why then start a review of a film about Iraq with a quote from an exponent of western colonialism? Because his words are the only thing in this film that show some interest in ‘the other’ and an attempt at understanding him. The extent of aggression on both sides in the present war make you numb.

The American military is officially not allowed to film its actions, explains the introduction, but many have done so anyway. A lot of the footage is shot through the window from inside a moving army vehicle. The viewer gets a sense of how the enemy is seen, and it’s not a pretty sight. A group of soldiers tear after someone in an armoured car, all screaming excitedly: “Shoot the motherfucker.” It sounds as if they’re playing a computer game rather than trying to keep the peace in a real country. Or they sit in their car, watching from a distance as a rocket lands on something that looks like a row of normal houses. Watching from a distance is something the Iraqi militia seems to do a lot too. According to Andrizzi, they film their actions – American cars being blown up for instance to use for recruitment and to raise money. They also have their own broadcasting offices where they add their own logos and songs. Instead of using swearwords, they invoke God.

All of us have seen images like this before; why then see them again in an endless parade of violence? This is polarizing and sensationalist, yet in the end acceptable. Using amateur documentary footage seems to be the cinéma vérité of the millennium; it shows from multiple viewpoints what this war really looks like, without the intervention of official media channels. And it shows you how those who shape this war see its reality, and how they try to make sense of it. “I don’t know how I feel anymore, ever since I got signed I can’t tell what’s real anymore” are the lyrics to the hip hop song accompanying images of an Iraqi street shot from a tank. Music plays an important part in Iraqi Short Films. The Western soldiers seem to enjoy making amateur music videos during their free time on the base. As a viewer, you feel shocked by this flippancy after seeing so much violence;yet you can’t help laughing at the funny dances they do with their machine guns. At least it shows their human side. This cannot be said of the militia music video in which the singer proclaims himself honoured to be a terrorist, inspiring only fear. Mauro Andrizzi and his Editor Francisco J. Vazquez Murillo’s intent was most probably to come up with a balanced compilation. Yet there is apparently no ‘human’ footage available from these militias. Can we draw any conclusion from this, or are these images distorting reality again? Who is to say?

Rebecca Wilson