Over the last 17 years, I have watched countless American shows, in the realm of NCIS and CSI, where Iraq is the culprit. We, Iraqis, have been portrayed as terrorists, villains, occasionally, victims. I shed a tear when I see an injured American soldier or a traumatized nurse on TV. Likewise, suffering from PTSD after, losing a friend owing to a tour in Iraq, in medical drama episodes akin to โMercyโ. In reality, we are the terrorized. Ever since the US rolled its tanks into our land, in 2003, we Iraqis have been fleeing our homeland to save our skins, leaving loved ones and livelihoods, behind. Overnight our country became a battlefield with elusive borders, creating the largest diaspora in modern history.
Recently, over the holidays, I watched a movie, MOSUL, on Netflix, by powerhouse Hollywood filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo. This movie revealed an inverse image. The movie MOSUL, is named after the City Mosul that was obliterated by ISIS, in 2014.When I first heard about it, I reckoned, argh, another presentation of Iraqโs forged image, in the same token as American Sniper. However, I took my chances. Besides, itโs pandemic times!
Not to spoil the movie MOSUL for future viewers: An Iraqi police squad, SWAT, in an act of valor and selflessness goes rogue to seek avenge from the infamous group ISIS. The movie is in Arabic, according to the Russo brothers not an easy task, yet MOSUL captured the genuine core of the Iraqi spirit: in its anger, foul language, empathy, improvising and wittiness. Ultimately, its sense of humor. During a trivial bartering scene, narcotic for weapons, an Iraqi soldier despite his dismal surroundings jeers โcigarettes and weapons unify the worldโ.
In MOSUL movie, the city was a total departure from the Mosul I remember. In 1993 March break, we vacationed in Mosul-Nineveh. It was a five hour drive, north of Baghdad. We booked in Oberoi Nineveh, a five-star hotel at the time. Decades later, ISIS leaders subsisted its guestsโ list.
Mosul, Iraqโs second largest city is inhabited historically by diverse faiths and ethnicities. All used to practise freely, their culture, faith, cuisine and language, until 2003. Snaked Bazars from goldsmiths to nightgown vendors, were run by names like Toma, Shamon, Zakaria, Yahya and Jalil. The bustling City embraces centuries old shrines, of prophetsโ Sheet, Jonah, Zarzis and the Humpback Minaret. A revered testament to coexistence. This concurrence was embodied in the movie, bereft from embellishments. When โco-starโ Kawa Faili, joins the squad, one of them mutters sarcastically โnow we are recruiting Kurdish boysโ his comrade indifferently said โwhy not?โ. The performance was perfect in its imperfections.In MOSUL, the brief interaction scene between the Iranian officer -in charge of Iraqi units- with the main SWAT actor, touches on the Iranian regimeโs meddling in Iraqโs affairs. A factual incident corroborated the scene. November 2019, I was in Baghdad, I came across a young driver. He had joined the Popular Mobilized Movement (Hashid), to fight the Islamic State (IS). He said โour commanders were Iranianโ. He scornfully added โThey speak Arabic better than you and meโ.