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Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire

2006·Movie
1h 30min
75
GreatGoodWatch score

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Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Violence6
  • Adrenaline4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy7
  • Catharsis4

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay1
  • Dark Humor1
  • Situational Comedy0

World

Politics, society, and history

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Complexity9
  • Character Depth8
  • Intrigue8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography6
  • Editing6
  • Sound Centrality6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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About

It was 30 years ago that 14-year-old Karzan Sherabayani was arrested and tortured by Saddam Hussein's secret police, his only crime being that he was a Kurd. After 25 years in exile, Karzan, now a British citizen, has returned to his childhood home to vote in Iraq's first democratic election. Having been banished for so long, Karzan now asks the people of Kirkuk if they accept the path promoted by the West...a path that will inevitably lead to a divided Iraq or a bloody civil war. In this incredible documentary, Karzan exposes a city that sits on one of the world's largest oil deposits as a place where old ethnic and sectarian divisions are still rife. Kirkuk, he says, is a microcosm of the new Iraq. During the year it took to make the program, Karzan confronted old demons from his past and met with the heroes and villains who are fashioning the country's dangerous and uncertain future
Political DocumentaryPost-Conflict ZoneKurdish ExperienceMiddle East HistorySocio-Political CommentaryPersonal JourneyGeopolitical AnalysisHuman RightsEthnic ConflictOil Politics

Crew

Directed by:
Written by:
Produced by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire legally?

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Is Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75/100 (IMDb 8). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire rated?

ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire?

1 h 30 min

Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire runs 1 h 30 min.

Is Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

What language is Return to Kirkuk: A Year in the Fire in?

EnglishKurdish

It was made in English, with some Kurdish. Produced in United Kingdom.