Farewell Baghdad (2014) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A Jewish family and its community confront persecution, political abandonment, and the painful loss of home while preparing to leave Iraq.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Home Under Search

The film introduces the Amari household through a violent police raid and a search for weapons. The arrest and imprisonment of a family member push the household toward underground assistance.

Key Events

• Police Raid the Apartments — Adnan joins a violent police search for hidden weapons in the family apartments. Characters: Adnan, Naima Location: Amari family home
• The Oud Is Preserved — Adnan finds an oud and places it respectfully on the bed instead of throwing it down. Characters: Adnan Location: Amari family home
• Family Searches for Help — The family attempts to locate imprisoned contacts and seek legal or underground assistance. Characters: Karim, Salman, Naima Location: Baghdad
• Weapons Reach the Network — Salman reveals a hidden weapons stash, and the weapons are carried to an underground contact. Characters: Karim, Salman Location: Baghdad streets

Messages Beneath Baghdad

Secret visits and hidden weapons connect the family to the resistance network. The execution of a communist leader makes the danger to Baghdad's Jews unmistakable.

Key Events

• Secret Prison Visits — Karim teaches a disguise that enables repeated visits to imprisoned contacts in the CID basements. Characters: Karim Location: Iraqi CID basements
• Escape Message Emerges — A prisoner asks that the community be told it is time to leave Iraq for Israel. Characters: Karim Location: Iraqi CID basements
• Resistance Leader Executed — The execution of the Armenian communist leader signals that the Jewish community will be targeted next. Location: Baghdad
• Escape Truck Prepared — Money is gathered to help arrange a truck carrying Jews toward Iran and eventually Israel. Characters: Abu Edouar, Salman Location: Abu Saadoun's café
• Community Romance Collides — Community figures discuss marriage possibilities and future work while escape plans intensify. Characters: Abu Edouar, Salman Location: Baghdad café

Citizenship Under Threat

The Prime Minister's policy turns Jewish identity and citizenship into a life-or-death choice. The community divides while surveillance and police violence intensify.

Key Events

• Citizenship Policy Revealed — The Prime Minister declares that Jews may leave only after renouncing Iraqi citizenship. Characters: Prime Minister, Abu Edouar Location: Abu and Umm George's dinner
• Policy Reaches the Community — The policy reaches the family, forcing a painful debate over history, safety, and emigration. Characters: Prime Minister, Salman, Naima Location: Amari family home
• Underground Membership Deepens — Karim warns about police surveillance while underground work is concealed through the pigeon business. Characters: Karim, Salman, Abu Edouar Location: Baghdad
• Kabi Faces Interrogation — Police arrest and violently interrogate Kabi, using his earlier patriotic essay to mock him. Characters: Karim Location: Iraqi police station
• Karim Secures Release — Karim intervenes and obtains Kabi's release, but states that he cannot help the family again. Characters: Karim Location: Iraqi police station

The City Breaks Apart

Naima begins accepting that the family must leave Iraq. Salman directs the destruction of weapons, but a synagogue explosion and a suspected betrayal reveal that departure cannot be peaceful.

Key Events

• Naima Accepts Departure — After the arrest, Naima recognizes that Jews have no future in Iraq, and Salman begins selling suitcases. Characters: Naima, Salman Location: Amari family home
• Weapons Are Ordered Destroyed — Salman, secretly leading the movement, orders weapons collected and destroyed before the Aliyah. Characters: Salman, Abu Edouar Location: Underground meeting
• Synagogue Explosion — An explosion damages the synagogue, and Naima sees Salman emerge blackened and disheveled. Characters: Salman, Naima Location: Synagogue
• The Final Oud Farewell — Salman hosts a farewell gathering and plays the oud for the last time before departure. Characters: Salman, Naima, Abu Edouar Location: Salman's home

Farewell at the Gallows

Arrests and public hangings mark the final collapse of safety in Baghdad. The family renounces citizenship and boards a plane, while Salman's oud is confiscated.

Key Events

• Abu Salih Is Arrested — Colonel Abd al-Hamid finds hidden weapons and arrests Abu Salih; Abu Edouar is suspected of informing. Characters: Adnan, Abu Edouar Location: Abu Salih's house and bakery
• Public Executions — Hezkel and Abu Salih are publicly hanged under accusations of Zionist treason. Characters: Naima Location: Baghdad gallows
• Citizenship Is Renounced — The Jewish community renounces citizenship and waits for flights to Israel. Characters: Salman, Naima Location: Baghdad departure area
• The Family Boards the Plane — Salman and Naima board the flight to Israel, but a soldier confiscates Salman's oud. Characters: Salman, Naima Location: Airport

Story Breakdown

• Household Under Siege — The story begins with state violence entering the family home and exposing the danger surrounding them.
  • Morning Police Raid — Police officers search the Amari apartments for hidden weapons.
  • Oud Amid Violence — An officer treats the family oud with unexpected respect.
• Prison Messages — The family seeks help while secret prison visits turn imprisonment into a channel for resistance instructions.
  • Searching For Assistance — The family approaches legal and underground contacts.
  • Call For Aliyah — A prisoner sends word that the community must prepare to leave.
• Underground Escape — Weapons, disguises, money, and trucks connect the family to a clandestine evacuation effort.
  • Hidden Weapons — Firearms are removed from the family home and delivered to the network.
  • Truck Toward Iran — The underground arranges transport toward Iran and Israel.
• Political Abandonment — A government policy transforms Jewish citizenship into a forced choice between exile and exposure.
  • Prime Minister's Warning — The Prime Minister announces conditional emigration and withdraws meaningful protection.
  • Family Divided — Naima resists departure while the community debates its future.
• Violence And Betrayal — Police interrogation, a synagogue explosion, and suspected informing destroy the remaining illusion of safety.
  • Interrogation Cell — Police torture a young community member and another prisoner dies from his wounds.
  • Destroyed Weapons — The underground orders weapons collected and destroyed before evacuation.
  • Synagogue Explosion — An explosion shocks the community and confirms the escalating danger.
• Exile And Memory — Executions force the final departure, but leaving also means surrendering possessions and cultural memory.
  • Gallows In Baghdad — Two prisoners are publicly hanged under accusations of Zionist treason.
  • Citizenship Renounced — The Jewish community gives up citizenship while waiting for flights.
  • Oud Confiscated — The family boards the plane, but a soldier takes away the oud.

Directed by

Nissim Dayan

Key Cast

• Daniel Gad — Kahbi
• Daniel Gadi — Khabi
• Yasmin Ayun — Rachelle
• Uri Gavriel — Abu Edouar
• Ron Shachar — Karim