Director: Atia Jabarah Al-Daradji, Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji
Year: 2011
Country: Iraq, The Netherlands, UAE, UK
Running time: 86 mins
Genres & Subjects: Being young, Human rights

This urgent documentary takes us into Baghdad’s most dangerous neighbourhood, where one determined man has taken it upon himself to rescue several dozen orphans from the dangers of the streets and the brutal conditions of state-run orphanages. Renting a small two-bedroom home in Sadr City, Husham Al Thabe does his best to provide a sense of normalcy to children traumatised by violence and warfare, all the while scrambling to raise the funds to keep the makeshift orphanage open. — MM.

“For nine months, the Al Daradji brothers filmed the daily life of the house, capturing the camaraderie between the children, their humble moments of playfulness, their squabbling and their efforts to cope. When the landlord raises the rent, Husham and his kids face possible eviction. To distract from that frightful prospect, the boys stage a musical performance called ‘In My Mother’s Arms’, giving voice to their longing for a mother’s unconditional love – that thing for which they hunger most.” — Rasha Salti, Toronto International Film Festival