AllMovie

A man's decision to follow his dreams unexpectedly leads him into a place of danger in this independent drama. Thirty-something Tarek (Bassem Samra) has been deeply disappointed with his life as a law student in Paris, and he decides to quit school and pursue his long-standing ambition of becoming a photographer. Tarek leaves France for his native Egypt, but it's not long after he arrives home that American and British troops invade Iraq, and life in the Middle East is quickly turned upside down. There's plenty to inspire Tarek's work amidst the chaos, but can his creative soul survive as Baghdad is poised to fall, and can he deal with his deeper personal dilemmas as he struggles to stay alive and sane? Basra was the first feature film from writer and director Ahmed Rashwan, and was an official selection at the 2009 San Jose Arab Film Festival.