Short Synopsis

In the wake of "Operation Iraqi Freedom," American actor Liev Schreiber had an idealistic notion: to rescue an Iraqi film student from the rubble of his country and bring him to the West to intern on a Hollywood movie (Everything Is Illuminated). It promised to be a heartwarming tale, a small victory out of the troubled mission of the U.S. war in Iraq. But as in the war itself, "good" intentions yielded unintended consequences, and even this operation doesn't go according to plan. Director Nina Davenport becomes personally involved in Schreiber's charitable effort, and soon finds herself embroiled in a complex moral quagmire and all-consuming power struggle between filmmaker and subject. Operation Filmmaker is an engaging, sometimes comical political parable, taking the viewer on a riveting ride from Baghdad to Hollywood.

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Long Synopsis

"This is the story of how well-intentioned Americans try to intervene in the life of an Iraqi. And how nothing goes as planned.

One year after the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States, MTV aired a documentary about Muthana Mohmed, a twenty-five-year-old Baghdad film student. Muthana had a winning smile and indomitable spirit, but his film school had been bombed to pieces. The American actor Liev Schreiber saw the MTV piece while preparing to direct his first feature. Feeling guilty for having so much opportunity while someone else had none, Schreiber invited Muthana to join the production of Everything Is Illuminated in the Czech Republic. It seemed like a dream come true, a story of bridging cultures, so documentary director Nina Davenport went along to film it.

Soon after Muthana arrives in Prague, the contrasts between his life experience and everyone else's prove gaping. At night, he watches television images of escalating violence in Baghdad; by day, he listens as crew members discuss the importance of editing a gag reel. When Muthana declares his love for George Bush, the liberal producers are taken aback.

Living away from his family for the first time, Muthana also isn't accustomed to taking care of himself. He has difficulty managing tasks like renewing his visa, not to mention comprehending expectations on a high-stress film set. The results are often harrowing. As Muthana starts to fear for his safety if he returns to Baghdad, his patrons reach the limits of their charity.

No one has a good exit strategy. For Davenport, what's meant to be a month of filming turns into a year and a half. She tells this story, full of remarkable twists and turns, with a sharp eye for humour and surreal juxtapositions. Everyone's motives are questioned, including documentary makers and their "semi-factitious" stories. What's remarkable is Davenport's ability to keep everyone's humanity in focus - their dreams and better inclinations - even as they blunder and grossly misunderstand each other. Are there lessons to be learned? The unintended consequences are too messy and situational to easily say. But in this mix of tragedy and farce, Davenport perfectly captures the follies of our times."

—Thom Powers, Toronto International Film Festival