Santa Claus in Baghdad

Overview

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

Top cast

T

Tamara Dhia

Amal

Nora Armani

Amal's Mother

Demosthenes Chrysan

Amal's Father

May Calamawy

Hala (as May El Calamawy)

J

John Rahal Sarrouf

Mr. Kareem

M

Miriam Habib

Student 1

A

Alexandra Nader

Student 2

A

Ameena Sais

Rafeeka

S

Sara Hassan

Deena

D

Dody Eid

Bilal

D

David Zaki

Sami

M

Marie-Thérèse Abou-Daoud

Bilal's Teacher

M

Manny Piatos

Uncle Omar

M

Monica Farrington

Fareeda

Nikhail Asnani

Fareeda's Son

N

Nadia Hassan

Fareeda's Daughter

G

Gershon Eigner

Book Merchant

Details