Heavy Metal in Baghdad

Heavy Metal in Baghdad

Heavy Metal in Baghdad is a feature-length documentary that follows Iraqi heavy metal band Acrassicauda from the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 to the present day.

Music journalists Suroosh Alvi and Eddy Moretti headed out to Iraq, to meet the heavy metal band and make a novel short film that fitted the image of their magazine’s indie culture.

However delving into the lives of the four 20 something Iraqis, they uncovered a band who vented their anger at a war through their music.

In a country where heavy metal was banned, these heavy metal rockers thought life after Saddam would give them freedom to pursue their musical dreams. Their hopes were quickly dashed as their country fell into a bloody insurgency.

Director Suroosh Alvi joins us to discuss how he followed Acrassicauda from war-torn Baghdad to refugee-filled Syria and got more than he bargained for as he listened to their soundtrack to war.

Tropa de Elite

Tropa De Elite has become one of the most popular Brazilian films in history

Paulo Andrade discovers the real story behind the Brazilian smash Tropa de Elite.

Tropa De Elite uncovers the underbelly of Rio De Janeiro’s favelas and how a special police task unit known as the BOPE cast their iron hand over Rio’s drug lords.

Picking up the Golden Bear prize at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, director Jose Padilha discusses how this is not just another movie from the Brazilian slums.

AmericanEast

AmericanEast is a portratal of Arab life in post September 11 Los Angeles

Amanda Palmer talks to director Hesham Issawi and his Arab-American cast about their film AmericanEast, a portrait of life for Arabs living in post September 11 Los Angeles.

The film examines long-held misunderstandings about Arab and Islamic culture and puts a human face on a segment of the US population that most Americans know nothing about, but who today are of particular interest to them, whether from curiosity or suspicion.

Rwandan Filmmakers

Gibert Ndahayo explores the Rwandan genocide in his film

Rwandan filmmaker, Gilbert Ndahayo’s film Behind this Convent is based on his personal experience of the genocide that took place in Rwanda 14 years ago, where hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis were slaughtered.

Ndahayo’s family were one of three of the 200 Tutsis killed and dumped in pits behind a convent and his film is a homage to those that died and the survivors who have to live with their loss.

Watch part one of this episode of The Fabulous Picture Show on Youtube

Watch part two of this episode of The Fabulous Picture Show on Youtube

This episode of The Fabulous Picture Show will broadcast at the following times GMT:

Saturday 22 March 14:30; 22:30; Sunday 23 March 02:30; 12:30  Monday 24th March 00:30; Tuesday 25th March  13:30; Wednesday 26th March 19:30; Thursday 27th March 05:30; Friday 28th March 03:00; 10:30; 16:30; Saturday 29th March 06:30.