Iraq n' Roll

Gili Gaon's intensely personal documentary focuses on Israeli musician Dudu Tassa's discovery of his family's distinctive musical heritage, as well as larger social implications. Tassa's grandfather was Daud al-Kuwaity, an Iraqi Jew who collaborated with his brother Salah in one of the most successful musical acts in 1930s Iraq. The siblings even performed for Iraq's monarchy and were credited with creating the country's distinctive modern sound—which would, in turn, influence popular music throughout the Middle East. But their fortunes changed dramatically after the creation of Israel. Emigrating from Iraq in 1950, the pair were forbidden to take their substantial earnings with them and arrived penniless in a Jewish state where Sephardic Jews faced discrimination and Arabic-language performances were discouraged. The siblings lived the remainder of their lives in near obscurity, unappreciated in their adopted homeland (ironically, they were still revered in Iraq; the documentary includes a 2003 clip from Iraqi television that honored their contributions to the nation's culture). Despite its facetious title, Iraq n' Roll is a serious examination that follows contemporary rocker Tassa as he pieces together his forebears' life stories—largely through conversations with relatives and others—and uncovers a half-forgotten archive containing their rare recordings, which later inspire his own innovative compositions. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)