“From Baghdad to the Bay” follows Ghazwan, offering a holistic account of a young man’s path as a refugee from Iraq to resettlement in the United States. By detailing the experiences of Ghazwan’s life as a translator for the US military, and following his life story through various expressions of sexual orientation as a gay man in a heterosexual marriage, a father, and eventually as a queer Arab activist, the film offers a complex – and thus impressively realistic – glimpse into queer Arab refugee lives. The film avoids typical tropes essentializing the refugee experience down to moments of trauma, but also tackles ongoing issues posed by PTSD. Viewers are asked to think critically about what persecution means – the legal basis for refugee status – as both Iraqi militias and the US military are implicated in human rights abuses portrayed in the documentary. While resettlement is posed as a “durable solution” by the UNHCR, this characterization is questioned in the film as the protagonist doesn’t necessarily find safety in America, and must deal with the history of torture imposed on him by his resettlement country. Nevertheless, new opportunities and challenges are posed in the resettlement context, and Ghazwan, like any community member, learns to navigate this landscape sometimes adroitly, while at others ending in disappointment. The film brings together an impressive cast of characters, from Ghazwan himself, to his military compatriots, family and friends. It is beautifully shot, incorporating hauntingly stark artwork to revisit memories. From Baghdad to the Bay would be an important addition for film libraries and coursework in Middle Eastern Studies, Critical Refugee Studies, Migration Studies, and Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Lindsay Gifford | Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Director, Department of International Studies
Coordinator, Middle Eastern Studies Program, University of San Francisco
“From Baghdad to The Bay” is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the often taboo subject of marginalized sexualities in the Arab world. I was truly moved by the film’s humanity, courage and poignant cinematography. The director has bravely chosen to broach a topic that is currently playing a central role in academia and elsewhere and she has managed to do so via the film’s main character, Ghazwan, whose personality, humor and resilience are truly inspiring. I believe that the film, having chronicled Ghazwan for nearly eight years, will move diverse audiences worldwide. Discourse centering on LGBT issues in many parts of the Middle East is urgently needed due to the so-called Islamic movements that are seeking to increasingly silence any activists—gay or otherwise—and prevent them from gaining any visibility or human rights. This film is therefore not only timely, but also long overdue. From Baghdad to The Bay is a film that is not only necessary, but life-saving.”
Dr. Ramzi Salti | Arabic Lecturer, Stanford University
“From Baghdad to The Bay successfully engages the viewer to participate in a journey into the ambiguities inherent to war through the eyes of translators, who are sometimes victims of both sides – a problem which is too often not obvious. The film presents an introspective challenge to those who have a need for truth and internal consistency. It forces us to rethink the distinction between patriotism and the general principles of right and wrong, and how these complicated answers work both for our adversaries, and for ourselves. Matters are further complicated by complex individual identities that figure in this example. By juxtaposing our impulses for human rights and our responsibility to world peace, while challenging our notions of loyalty, through her inspiring film the director and producer Erin Palmquist is offering us a mandatory educational tool, which presents an excellent starting point for several interesting classroom discussions. The film was successfully presented at the 21st United Nations Association Film Festival.”
Jasmina Bojic | Stanford Lecturer and Founder/Director, UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival)
“From Baghdad to the Bay is an essential addition to any Middle East Studies library collection. It can facilitate teaching and learning of undergraduate courses in LGBT studies, gender and sexuality studies and/or cultural studies. The documentary film is unique and unlike the very few documentaries on LGBT issues in the Middle East that exist. It follows the story of Ghazwan, a gay Iraqi man who finds himself working as a translator for the US army during the second Gulf war. Ghazwan has to navigate a hostile environment on numerous fronts, including familial rejection, asylum-seeking and the culture shock that accompanies banishment and exile. In documenting Ghazwan’s journey from Iraq to the San Francisco Bay Area, the film fosters cross-cultural understanding and deepens our understanding of complex identities.”
Dr. Samar Habib | Associate Researcher in the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London
How can a love for the United States be tantamount to a kiss of death? Iraqi Ghazwan Alsharif loves American culture and the freedom to be an openly gay man but his service as a military translator during our occupation there was the start of a horrific nightmare that only his extraordinary spirit could overcome. Here is a film that tells in microcosm why the Iraq War was a disaster for Iraqi’s who believe it to be their liberation and for American’s who believed it to be the arrival of democracy in a backward land. Heartfelt and captivating, this film is destined to be among the classic depictions of a misguided war and its unexpected consequences.
Bill Nichols | author of Introduction to Documentary
From Baghdad to the Bay follows the traumatic but ultimately uplifting life story of Ghazwan Alsharif, from serving as an interpreter for the US army during its invasion of Iraq, through death threats and then imprisonment and torture by the U.S. military police, to becoming an exile in the United States, a working chef (who even appeared on a Food Network television contest), a long-distance father, and an openly gay activist. Although held together by Ghazwan’s articulate and honest reflections, this award-winning documentary by director Erin Palmquist weaves archival footage, interviews, live events, and even animated re-enactments into a multi-layered narrative, which continually unfolds new aspects of a complex personal and cultural history. More than just a “human interest” story (although it is certainly that too), it addresses a variety of contemporary issues that may be of educational interest, including questions of cultural identity, cultural difference, and LGBT+ issues within Islamic culture.
Prof. R. L. Rutsky | School of Cinema, San Francisco State University
“There are so many layers of meaning in this movie that resonated with our students and caused them to be deeply affected by the movie and the Q&A that followed. Each table group mentioned that Ghazwan’s message, “Never hate; always go with love” meant so much to them, especially in these troubled times.”
Gail Siegel | Founder ForWords Literacy Lab
“From Baghdad to The Bay succeeded with my students in reflecting and refracting a remarkable range of political and social concerns—both local and global—through the journey and character of its subject Ghazwan.”
Michael Fox | Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
