Monday, March 5, 2018 @ 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Film Screening

Iraq’s last Jews tell the story of their country

Directed by Fiona Murphy

On the hundreth anniversary of the British invasion in 1917, Remember Baghdad is the untold story of Iraq, an unmissable insight into how the country developed from a completely new perspective – through the eyes of the Jews who lived there for 2,600 years until only a generation ago. With vivid home movies and archive news footage, eight characters tell their remarkable stories, of fun that was had, and the fear that followed as Iraq laid foundations for decades of unrest. Amid the country’s instability today the film follows one Iraqi Jew on a journey home, back to Baghdad.

The story begins with a happy period for the Jews. In 1917 a third of the citizens of Baghdad are Jewish. The descendants of the scholars who wrote the Babylonian Talmud are now westernising fast. In 1947 the first Miss Baghdad is Jewish. Jews are parliamentarians. They attend fancy parties and picnics on the Tigris with the elite. After the creation of Israel, they are no longer safe. A mass exodus takes place, though many thousands stay behind, loyal to the country they love. Finally, after 1967, Saddam Hussein mobilizes a mass movement against them and they must flee.

The film’s characters tell their story with poignant regret and clarity.

You can view the trailer here.

The film screening will be followed by a Q&A with Edwin Shuker.

All proceeds will support our highly successful BISI Visiting Iraqi Scholarship programme that fosters scholarly exchange between Iraq and the rest of the world. For more information on the programme contact the Executive Officer by email: [email protected] or tel.: +44 (0)20 7969 5274