Educational Media Reviews Online

This film does a superb job of exhibiting the history of Iraq in the context of the Iraqi people’s dilemma of dwelling above the world’s second largest oil reserve. While the nation’s oil has at times been a source of great wealth and economic boom, it is also the root of virtually all of Iraq’s problems. Through ample interviews and historical footage, the film discusses the creation of the nation of Iraq, the nationalization of the oil industry in 1972, the string of coups in Iraqi leadership in the late 1970s, the rise of Saddam Hussein and his contributions to the modernization of Iraq (with Iraqi oil income), the origins of the conflict with the Kurds, and events leading up to the second Gulf War. The film does not go into gruesome detail about the coups or campaigns against the Kurds. The film brings to light how the Iraqi people and Iraqi government have each developed smuggling rings for secretly gathered oil despite UN sanctions. The film provides great detail on how the Iraqi people have coped with the “food for oil” program.

Oil in Iraq: Curse or Blessing? is simply a tremendous film. In a time where such a film may have been dripping with emotion and/or partiality, this is a perfectly unbiased look at Iraq’s history. Furthermore, one may acquire this film in the confidence that its material will not become dated any time soon. There is enough good information here for anyone. This is an excellent film for those eager to learn the history of Iraq and gain understanding of the events leading up to today’s events.