A Boy’s Mythic Quest Through War-Torn Baghdad in *Irkalla*
A new film, Irkalla: Gilgamesh's Dream, transports viewers to modern-day Baghdad—a city scarred by conflict yet still standing. The story centres on Chum-Chum, a nine-year-old ragpicker, whose life is shaped by the ancient myth of Gilgamesh and his quest to the underworld. Against a backdrop of bombings, protests, and violence, the boy clings to a desperate belief that the Tigris river will guide him to his lost parents in the afterlife.
Chum-Chum’s world is harsh but not without hope. His older sister, Sara, works long nights at a local cabaret to keep them afloat. Their proxy guardian, Moody, has ties to a militia leader but dreams of fleeing to the Netherlands with the children. Yet Chum-Chum refuses to leave, convinced that Baghdad holds the key to reuniting with his parents in Irkalla, the mythical underworld.
Irkalla: Gilgamesh's Dream stands out for its striking portrayal of Baghdad and the strength of its child actors. The city, like its young inhabitants, endures despite relentless hardship. While the story occasionally loses its way in sentimentality, it leaves a lasting impression of survival against impossible odds.
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