Review

Acrassicauda was a thrash group playing in Baghdad when MTV News reporter Gideon Yago covered the outbreak of the war in 2003. The bandmates only had a handful of gigs under their belt, but they knew how to shred. Fascinated, Yago penned an Vice article that was the genesis for this documentary. Heavy Metal in Baghdad shows the complexity of being a non-conformist rock band under a dictatorial regime, where conformity is a mandate. A shaky camcorder performance from the early days shows the band head-banging to a song that pledges allegiance to its "fearless leader" Saddam Hussein. Acrassicauda doesn't fare much better after the regime is toppled. Curfews heavily restrict its ability to perform and a longtime practice space is destroyed in a bombing that band members believe came from coalition forces. One by one, they flee to nearby Syria in search of better opportunities, awash in feelings of loss and frustration. In front of the cameras, the musicians try to channel their anger into upbeat philosophizing, but it quickly becomes apparent how much the war disrupts their lives and dreams. At its core, this film reaches beyond heavy metal to depict the impossibly hopeless struggles of life in a post-totalitarian state, told by those who are most affected. (English and Arabic with English subtitles)

 -- John Vettese