The Liberace of Baghdad (0+)
UK, 2005, colour, 70 min.
Director: Sean McAllister
Director: Sean McAllister
Held up in a heavily fortified Baghdad hotel the pianist, Samir Peter and the film-maker Sean McAllister try to survive the "peace" of post-war Iraq . Samir has a dream visa to live in America where ‘he wants to be famous’. Over 8 months of filming the violence escalates out of control, kidnapping is rife and Samir’s neighbour is murdered on her doorstep. Will Samir now sacrifice his American dream for the sake of his family left in lawless Iraq?
Sean McAllister
Sean McAllister
worked as a welder and pea processor before taking to film school. He graduated from the UK’s National Film and Television School in 1995. He is working on another documentary in Japan and is in development to direct his drama feature called Taking Stock which he wrote whilst holed up in a Baghdad hotel last year.
FILMOGRAPHY
“Working for the Enemy”, 1997; “Minders”, 1998; “Settlers”, 2000; “Hull’s Angel”, 2002.
UK, 2005, colour, 70 min.
Director: Sean McAllister
Director: Sean McAllister
Held up in a heavily fortified Baghdad hotel the pianist, Samir Peter and the film-maker Sean McAllister try to survive the "peace" of post-war Iraq . Samir has a dream visa to live in America where ‘he wants to be famous’. Over 8 months of filming the violence escalates out of control, kidnapping is rife and Samir’s neighbour is murdered on her doorstep. Will Samir now sacrifice his American dream for the sake of his family left in lawless Iraq?