Santa Claus in Baghdad

In impoverished Baghdad under Saddam's dictatorship, 16-year-old Amal hopes to regain her social status at school by volunteering to find a book as a class gift for the departing literature teacher. Meanwhile, her emotionally fragile little brother becomes obsessed with the notion that a visiting uncle from America--whom he confuses with Santa Claus--will bring him toys. Ashamed never to have been able to give his son a toy, the child's father sells some more prized family possessions and buys a model car for him.

Directed by Raouf Zaki

Images

Cast

Tamara Dhia

Amal

Nora Armani

Amal's Mother

Demosthenes Chrysan

Amal's Father

May Calamawy

Hala (as May El Calamawy)

John Rahal Sarrouf

Mr. Kareem

Miriam Habib

Student 1

Alexandra Nader

Student 2

Ameena Sais

Rafeeka

Sara Hassan

Deena

Dody Eid

Bilal

David Zaki

Sami

Marie-Thérèse Abou-Daoud

Bilal's Teacher

Manny Piatos

Uncle Omar

Monica Farrington

Fareeda

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