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Iraq in Fragments is unique from contemporaneous documentaries covering the 2003 American invasion and occupation of Iraq, like Control Room and The War Tapes, in that it is told entirely from the Iraqi perspective and is not at all concerned with the American point of view. The three movement structural approach is notable less for what it reveals about Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish perspectives than the specific lives of the subjects covered and their hopes for the future. In the first section, about 11 year-old Mohammed Haithem in Baghdad, we hear his thoughts regarding the strange soldiers and Humvees patrolling the streets, but the boy is most concerned with his schoolwork and work under the tutelage of the auto shop's harsh owner. The painterly cinematography by director James Longley aims for the studied framing and attention to light and color associated with narrative film techniques rather than the hand-held immediacy of documentary journalism. Longley focuses on his subjects with a refreshingly nonjudgmental and humanitarian eye that reminds the viewer that the Iraq war is essentially about Iraqis and encourages consideration of their often unseen day-to-day lives. It's a lyrical and quietly affecting film. Iraq in Fragments was nominated for and won a number of awards, including a nomination for the Best Documentary Feature in the 2006 Academy Awards and wins for Best Directing, Cinematography, and Documentary Film Editing at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Michael Buening, All Movie Guide

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