Jo Wilding with Circus 2 Iraq (© 2005 Year Zero Films)

Director Julia Guest of Year Zero Films has created a powerful new documentary about Jo Wilding’s journey in Iraq.

Jo Wilding? Let’s start near the end.

“In the morning I make balloon dogs, giraffes and elephants for the little one, Abdullah, Aboudi, who’s clearly distressed by the noise of the aircraft and explosions. I blow bubbles which he follows with his eyes. Finally, finally, I score a smile.” [1]

A Letter to the Prime Minister: Jo Wilding’s Diary from Iraq, documents Wilding’s journey of witness: from the quiet brutality of the sanctions afflicting ordinary Iraqis to the siege of Fallujah, which she shared with Fallujans in April, 2004.

Elderly man killed in crossfire, Najaf - photo by Kael Alford

For months on end, seven independent photographers and filmmakers have worked exclusively in Iraq documenting US troops and Iraqi civilians, resistance fighters and child laborers, imprisoned women and incarcerated youths. Using varied media and narrative styles ranging from photojournalism to first person narratives, cinema verite and found photography, Iraq Uncensored photographers present insights and subtleties beyond what daily news reporting can provide.

Together they will present rare windows on Iraq, the land that cradled what we now call civilization.

Larry Holdaway, an artist and photographer, created this chilling composite by combining the portraits of every American soldier killed in Iraq from March 2003 to September 2004.

Larry writes: “This is the face of America’s sacrifice, the face of more than a thousand families’ pain. Do you recognize it?

You can view more of Larry’s work at bluestarfolly.com

Kathy Kelly and Michael Birmingham of Voices in the Wilderness speak about the occupation of Iraq and resistance to Empire in the US, Iraq and elsewhere.

Date Recorded: 2004-07-07
Location Recorded: Chicago, IL

Stream the Interview (50:16 - 34.5 MB)

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Michael Birmingham of Voices in the Wilderness speaks about the occupation of Iraq and resistance to Empire in the US, Iraq and elsewhere. This is from a talk that both Michael Birmingham and Kathy Kelly gave in Chicago, IL, July 7th 2004.

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