In the aftermath of the war against ISIS, an estimated one hundred thousand children have been left to fend for themselves in Iraq. Iraq’s Lost Generation studies the stories of these youngsters, from orphans navigating the streets of Mosul to the children of families who pledged allegiance to the caliphate. Stigmatized and unrecognized by law in post-ISIS Iraq, they face barriers to medical care, food assistance, and, most crucially, education due to the absence of proper identification.
This investigation takes viewers on a journey through war-torn lands around Mosul, Kurdistan, and Northeastern Syria, shedding light on the struggles of a generation that endured the reign of the Islamic State, the subsequent war for liberation, and the ensuing violence. In a quest for a future marred by revenge, these children exist as social outcasts in a new Iraq that only a handful of NGOs are attempting to assist.
Iraq’s Lost Generation asks “Why are these children stateless” and “What has caused this inhumanity” throughout the film. Its major flaw is the way it provides little to no background or analysis of recent history outside very minor forays into the reign of ISIS in Iraq. The invasion of Iraq by the US and UK created both the resistance that would become ISIS and the power vacuum that allowed them to seize power. This and other historical nuances are missing from this documentary. Another issue viewers may encounter is the jarring difference between the emotional testimonials of these Iraqi children and the cold, journalistic narration.
However, as an examination of those living in the refugee camps in Iraq and Syria, Iraq’s Lost Generation shines. There are many honest interviews with the children affected by the hatred of a dwindling terrorist group: Why should they be made stateless because of the mistakes of their fathers? Library patrons or educators looking for an emotional dive into the lives and experiences of the children left behind in the wake of ISIS will absolutely want to see this title. Recommended.