Project Detail

Hanging Gardens

Synopsis

Brothers As’ad (12) and Taha (28) barely scrape a living as rubbish pickers in ‘Hanging Gardens’—the local nickname for Baghdad’s smouldering dumps—yet they make the most of what they have. Then one day, As’ad discovers an American sex doll. When he brings the taboo item home and presents her as a thing of beauty, Taha assaults his little brother for ruining their reputation. As’ad retreats to Hanging Gardens to make a new home for himself and his miraculous find.
When As’ad and his friend, Amir (14), discover the doll can speak, they teach her the language of seduction in Arabic and set her to work. Business rockets, raising their profile lucratively with local teens and dangerously with the local patriarch’s enforcers. As’ad questions their exploitation of the doll, yet before he can save her from further degradation, she’s kidnapped. As’ad and Amir go after the prime suspect, only to discover that he’s turned informant.
The patriarch has As’ad and Amir kidnapped so that he can exact his own cruel and humiliating punishments. As’ad survives to complete the journey he began and reconcile himself to the choices he’s made on his own terms.
Official Selection Venice Film Festival 2022 - World premiere

Details

Year: 2022
Type of film: Features
Running time: 117 min
Format: 4K 2.35
Director: Ahmed Yassin Al-Daradji
Producer: Huda Al Kadhimi, Margaret Glover, May Odeh
Editor: Kamal El Mallakh
Screenwriter: Ahmed Yassin Al-Daradji, Margaret Glover
Director of Photography: Duraid Munajim
Production Designer: Michael Rakowitz
Sound: Rana Eid
Music: Suad Bushnaq
Principal cast: Wissam Diyaa Jawad Al Shakarji Hussain Muhammad Jalil Akram Mazen Ali
Associate Producer: Maytham Jbara

Genre

Drama

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Egypt, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia co-production

Ishtar Film Production (IQ), Odeh Films (PS), Purattu Film Ltd (UK)

Purattu Film Ltd

Ahmed Yassin
129 Hide Tower
Regency Street
London
SW1P 4AB

Sales Company

True Colours

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