The Liberace of Baghdad (2005)
4.0 of 5 from 45 ratings
1h 14min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Held up in a heavily fortified Baghdad hotel the pianist, Samir Peter and the film-maker Sean McAllister try to survive the “peace” of post-war Iraq. Samir Peter, once Iraq’s most famous pianist now plays in a half-empty hotel bar to contractors, mercenaries and besieged journalists. In his heyday he described himself as the ‘Liberace of Baghdad’ but today he sleeps in a bricked up hotel room, too afraid to cross town to his 7 bedroom mansion. His string of western girlfriends has led to his wife and two of his kids leaving for the States. But now Samir has a visa to live in America too, to find fame and fortune there is what he calls his ‘one last adventure in life’. But Sahar, his pro Saddam daughter hates America for what it has done to her country. She refuses to go and Samir is set to leave alone. Over 8 months of filming the violence escalates out of control, kidnapping is rife and Samir’s neighbour is murdered on her doorstep. Will Samir now sacrifice his American dream for the sake of his family left in lawless Iraq? - Actors:
- Samir Peter, Sean McAllister
- Directors:
- Sean McAllister
- Others:
- Sean McAllister
- Genres:
- Documentary
- Awards:
2005 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Special Jury Prize Documentary
