Once Upon a Time in Iraq is a 2020 British documentary television miniseries, directed by James Bluemel and narrated by British-Iraqi Andy Serkis. Composed of five episodes, it features interviews with Iraqi citizens, as well as American military personnel and international journalists about the Iraqi conflict and its effects on the Iraqi people.
Overview
The series chronologically covers the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition that overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein, and its subsequent occupation of Iraq (2003–2011); the first phase of the Iraqi insurgency (2003–2006); the Iraqi Civil War (2006–2008); the post-US withdrawal insurgency (2011–2013); and the War in Iraq (2013–2017), an armed conflict between the Iraqi Army and its allies against the Islamic State.
The first episode was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 13 July 2020. A heavily edited, single-episode, feature-length version was subsequently broadcast in the United States by PBS as part of their Frontline series on 14 July 2020. The American version omitted the interviews with Rudy Reyes and Nathan Sassaman among others. The American version also completely omits the third episode on the Battle of Fallujah.
The series was widely acclaimed in the British press, winning the awards for best documentary and outstanding series at the Rose d'Or festival in December 2020, in addition to being named Best Factual Series at the 2021 British Academy Television Awards.
Interviewees
Mustafa Abed
Nidhal Abed
Alaa Adel
Ahmed Albasheer
Ahmad al-Matyouti
Ibrahim al-Rawi
Christian Dominguez
Dexter Filkins
Ashley Gilbertson
Um Ibrahim
Ali Hussein Kadhim
Sally Mars
Lewis Miller
Susie Miller
Omar Mohammed
Waleed Nesyif
John Nixon (CIA) Rudy Reyes Aliyah Khalaf Saleh Tahany Saleh Nathan Sassaman Sam Williams
Note: Several of the above were omitted from the version made for American television.
Episodes
Reception
Once Upon a Time in Iraq received critical acclaim following its release. The Guardian called it "a gripping, harrowing masterpiece" and praised its content, noting the use of interviews with people who were there, as opposed to prioritising interviews with politicians and analysts. New Statesman similarly gave it a rave review, calling it a "duty" to watch and praising Bluemel's storytelling.