Heavy Metal In Baghdad

Heavy Metal in Baghdad documents the only Iraqi heavy metal band - Acrassicauda. The four band members got together back in 2000 wanting nothing more than to grow their hair long and play loud music. Under the Saddam Hussein regime, they had to endure persecution for wearing t-shirts from American bands, having goatees, and banging their heads - which was viewed as a Jewish prayer ritual. They had to write a song praising Saddam to be allowed to play.

The first year or so after the war, things improved in Baghdad but after that progressively got worse turning Iraq into a living hell. From there the movie is less about a band than it is about the horrors of life in Iraq and the plight of Iraqi refugees in other countries. It's a very interesting film and a very heartbreaking look into the lives of 4 young men with no political agenda, just a desire to play music and be happy. It's difficult to watch at times but well worth it.