A Glimpse of Art in Iraq

There is no doubt that the artistic renaissance in Iraq has taken rapid strides... and is still taking them. Here I should like to set before the readers of "The Woman's Voice" some of what this country has achieved!

A company has been formed in Iraq under the name of "Iraq Films Company, Ltd.," directed by the dean of art in Iraq, Mr. Haqqi al-Shibli. It will shortly bring out its first film, whose events unfold between Iraq and Egypt, having come to an agreement on this matter with the Artists' Union company in Egypt. The exterior scenes will be taken in Iraq, while the interior scenes will be photographed at Studio Misr, early next July. And there is no doubt that a work of this kind, whose events unfold between Iraq and Egypt and which pictures the scenes of the two sister countries, may rightly be counted the first of the aims that Arab unity has attained — and the greatest credit for it belongs to Mr. Haqqi al-Shibli.

Next April there will come to Iraq Messrs. Ahmed Badrakhan, the director; Abdel Halim Nasr, the cameraman; and Helmi Rafla, the makeup man — to photograph the exterior scenes, and to choose the actors and actresses who will play in this film. We have learned that Mr. Bechara Wakim will be among its players. The story is by Iraq's first artist, Haqqi al-Shibli; the dialogue is by Mr. Youssef Gohar; the direction is by Mr. Badrakhan; and the leading role will be played by Mr. al-Shibli... This film will be shown at one and the same time in the sister countries. Nor has this company contented itself with the production of films: it has gone beyond them to the photographing of a special newsreel picturing life in the Iraqi countryside... and its agriculture, and industry in Iraq...

Another company has been formed under the name of the "Baghdad Films Company," which has built itself a studio of the same name, and has likewise opened a special school for teaching the principles of acting and direction at the hands of the American director McQuill — and to it young men and young women have flocked in droves and singly! The first fruits of its work will appear early next year...

This is apart from the theatrical troupes, which increase steadily day after day — heralding the rise of a great theatrical renaissance and the lifting of the Iraqi stage on high.

Fouad al-Ba'li
Baghdad