Farewell Baghdad (2013 film)

Farewell Baghdad
Promotional poster
Arabic	مطير الحمام
Directed by	Nissim Dayan
Written by	Nissim Dayan
Produced by	David Mandil, Dov Keren, Moshe Edri, Leon Ederi, Hezi Bezalel, Omri Bezalel
Starring	Daniel Gad Yigal Naor Uri Gavriel Ahuva Keren Yasmin Ayun Menashe Noy Eli Dor Hayim Ron Shahar Mira Awad
Cinematography	Shai Goldman
Edited by	Asaf Korman
Music by	Sharon Farber
Release date	May 13, 2013 (2013-05-13) (Israeli Film Academy)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	Israel
Language	Judeo-Iraqi Arabic

Farewell Baghdad (Hebrew: מפריח היונים, lit. The Dove Flyer; Arabic: مطير الحمام, romanized: Muṭayr al-Ḥammām) is an Israeli film based on the novel with the same name, by Iraqi-born Jewish writer Eli Amir. The film was directed by Nissim Dayan, who also wrote the screenplay. The idea for the film was conceived by actress Ahuva Keren, and the script was translated by her into Judeo-Arabic. The making of the film was completed in 2013, but the film itself was commercially released in April 2014.

Over nearly two hours, and through the story of a 16-year-old Jewish boy (Daniel Gad), Farewell Baghdad depicts the story of the last days of the Baghdad Jewish community of the 1950s, and on the eve of the Aliyah of almost all of that community to Israel in Operation Ezra and Nehemiah. At that time, The Kingdom of Iraq was struggling to overcome its defeat in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War against the nascent State of Israel, and was torn between Royalism, separatism and communism. On the other hand, the world's oldest Jewish community, which numbered at the time about a sixth of the population of the capital of Baghdad, also grappled between their historical and cultural relationship with the Iraqi people, the growing support for the communist movement, and their solidarity with the State of Israel and Zionism.

Farewell Baghdad is the first Judeo-Arabic-language film in the history of cinema (specifically, Baghdad Jewish Arabic), and as traditionally is with the Jews of Iraq, it is inserted with phrases from the scriptures (such as "Bar Minan", "Tisha B'Av" etc.) in their traditional Iraqi Hebrew pronunciations. When the Jewish characters talk with Arab Muslims, the dialect changes slightly and becomes a Muslim Iraqi Arabic.

The characters

Beit Imari

The Salman Imari Family

• Kaabi Imari (Daniel Gad) – The film's protagonist, a 16-year-old Jewish boy, a version of Eli Amir. A high school student, slightly driven by hormones but primarily a warm, supportive, and loving family member striving for independence and a role within the family. The film shows his first shave, emphasizing his desire to no longer be seen as a child.
• Salman Imari (Yigal Naor) – Kaabi's father, formerly a law student, later a lawyer, an oud player, and a bon vivant. Now a respected man, a father of two, and a top-tier tailor. He enjoys spoiling his family with Middle Eastern sweets. The story reveals that he numbs his hidden pain with arak and is more enigmatic than he first appears.
• Naima Imari (Ahava Keren) – Kaabi’s mother, a homemaker.
• Nuri Imari – Kaabi's 13-year-old brother, a student who also works part-time in Salman's tailor shop alongside a seamstress named Dizi.

The Hezekel Imari Family

• Hezekel Imari (Eli Dor Haim) – Salman’s younger brother and Kaabi’s uncle. He was active, likely ideologically, in the Zionist underground movement in Iraq, known as "HaTnu'a."
• Rachel Imari (Yasmin Ayun) – Hezekel’s wife, significantly younger than him. She is portrayed as a stunning young woman with blue eyes, fair skin, and long golden hair. However, her qualities go beyond her looks—she is independent and determined. She defies conventions, as seen when she slaps Salman after he comments on her modesty in dress. Kaabi secretly suffers from forbidden love for Rachel, and some scenes suggest she may have feelings for him as well.
• Rachel and Hezekel live in an apartment adjacent to Salman Imari’s family. The doors of both apartments open into a shared courtyard, separated from the street by a gate.

The Abu Adwar Family

• Abu Adwar (Uri Gavriel) – A middle-aged, uneducated man whose first name and surname are not revealed in the film. He makes a living as a "pigeon handler," a profession not considered respectable in the community. The term "pigeon handling" refers to raising pigeons on his rooftop and selling them as a delicacy to the city's wealthy. Some pigeons are sold to be stuffed with rice, but even more exquisite are the pigeons stuffed and prepared by the handler himself. Even for Hezekel, Abu Adwar refuses to use his strong connections with the city's dignitaries, which he built through his work. He praises the good life enjoyed by Iraq’s Jews and the seventy types of dates, cream, and fish that bless the land. He opposes Zionism, explaining that "Israel does not belong to us. Israel belongs to other Jews."
• Juliet – Abu Adwar's wife and the mother of his children. She has a minor presence in the film.
• Adwar (David Shaul) – The eldest son of Abu Adwar and Juliet, Kaabi’s peer and friend. He is portrayed as a mischievous youth active in the Communist movement. The name "Adwar" is the Arabic pronunciation of "Edward."
• Amira (Inbal Nir) – The youngest daughter of Abu Adwar and Juliet, in love with Kaabi and active in the Zionist movement.

The Abu Adwar family lives on the top floor of the same building where the two nuclear families of the Amari household reside.

Kaabi, Nuri, Adwar, and Amira attend the same high school. Kaabi and Adwar are friends, and Salman and Abu Adwar go out together to drink and have fun.

Additional characters

Muslims

• Karim Abd al-Haq (Ron Shahar) – A Muslim lawyer and a close friend, almost like a brother, to Salman from their law school days. Karim supports both the Zionist movement and the Communists. He is the brother of a high-ranking officer and seems to have other connections with the authorities. A lover of alcohol and Jewish women, Naima Amari describes him as handsome “like a movie star” and “as wise as Hezekiel—perhaps even wiser.”
• Abu Saadon (Hazi Tzadik) – A Muslim who makes his living running an establishment that is part café, part restaurant, and part nightclub. This place acts as a kind of mirror revealing the hidden sides of the male characters, especially Salman. It is here that Salman is seen drinking and where he explains to Kaabi that no one—not Abu Saadon, not Abu Adwar, nor anyone else—can be trusted.
• Colonel Hamid (Kobi Faraj) – A high-ranking Muslim officer in the Iraqi army, primarily engaged in carrying out violent raids, akin to pogroms, against the homes of Jews and Communists.

Jews

• Abu Tsalach (Menashe Noy) – A baker and a key figure in the Zionist underground movement. The community sees him as a disgrace due to his unclear past relationship with a Bedouin woman, Fathiya, who later appears in the film and shares his bed. The film does not elaborate on this, but from the book, we learn that Abu Tsalach is a somewhat hedonistic bachelor who also pursues Amira. His nickname, "Abu Tsalach," was not earned through fatherhood (as he has no children) but due to other aspects of his personality. His home also serves as a hideout for Fuad, an emissary from Israel who delivers instructions from the Israeli government and David Ben-Gurion.
• Salim – Salman's paternal cousin and an activist in the Communist movement. He believes that Jews will never be allowed to leave Iraq and therefore must align themselves with their Muslim and Christian brethren in the revolution to overthrow the monarchical and capitalist regime.
• Abu George (Yossi Alfi) and Umm George (also known as Gladys) – Wealthy Jews in Baghdad and clients of both Salman and Abu Adwar. The Jewish community despises them, accusing them of amassing wealth by exploiting other Jews. However, the Iraqi government considers them an important part of the national economy.
• Salima (Mira Awad) – A glamorous and desirable singer who performs at Abu Saadon’s café. Salman was once in love with her and wanted to marry her, and Abu Adwar also confesses his attraction to her. The film does not specify her religion, but it is plausible that she is Jewish. She may be based on the real-life Jewish singer Salima Murad, who remained in Iraq, converted to Islam, and married Nazem al-Ghazali, one of Iraq’s greatest singers at the time.

The film's trailer states that it tells the story of four women—likely Rachel, Amira, Naima, and Salima, each central to the romantic entanglements of Kaabi and Salman.

Plot

The search for weapons in the Amari family homes

The film opens with Kabi sitting calmly at his desk. The silence of the early morning hours is interrupted by Colonel Hamid Abd al-Aziz (Kobi Farag) of the Iraqi police, accompanied by soldiers/officers Mohammed and Adnan (Tawfeek Barhom). The three pound on the inner courtyard gate facing the street. When Kabi opens the gate, they storm into the two apartments, dragging with them Hezekel, who is handcuffed and appears to have endured a brutal night of interrogation. The officers shackle Hezekel to the window bars and begin a violent search for hidden weapons.

Through the tense exchanges between the enforcers and the family members, the viewer is introduced to the Amari family. It also becomes clear that Hezekel was arrested for writing a newspaper article criticizing the Iraqi government. (From the book, it is revealed that the article warned Jews about what awaited them in Basra under Shafiq Adas, a wealthy Jewish merchant close to the royal family, who was accused of smuggling weapons to Israel and supporting the communist movement.)

During the search, Adnan finds an oud inside the wardrobe in Salman and Naima's bedroom. Unlike the other objects he tosses to the floor, the officer carefully and respectfully places the oud on the bed.

Ultimately, the search yields nothing. The Iraqi police leave, dragging Hezekel with them to an unknown location. During the search, Salman, who had apparently gone out for the evening, is not at home. He returns just as the police are leaving, only to be met with Naima’s reproach about his timing.

External links

• Farewell Baghdad at IMDb