Baghdad Messi
Baghdad Messi is a 2023 drama film directed by Sahim Omar Kalifa, with a screenplay by Kobe Van Steenberghe from a story by Kobe Van Steenberghe and Ruth Mallaerts. It is about an Iraqi boy who, after losing his leg in a terrorist attack, fights to continue pursuing his passion for soccer. It is based on the 2012 short film of the same name by the same director. It is a co-production between Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Iraq.
It was selected as the Iraqi entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.
Synopsis
Hamoudi is an 11-year-old boy who loves soccer and dreams of reaching the level of his idol, Lionel Messi. One day he is the victim of an attempted suicide attack in Iraq, which causes him to lose a leg. While his parents do everything they can to protect the family, Hamoudi is determined to fight to make his shattered dream come true.Cast
- Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah as Hamoudi
- Christian Renson as John
- Zahraa Ghandour as Salwa
- Atheer Adel
- Errol Trotman-Harewood as Duncan
- Atheer Adel
- Safa Najem
- Adil Abdulrahman
- Hussein Hassan as Bahoz
- Ravand Zaid as Soldier 1
- Saman Mustefa as Soldier 2
- Bangen Ali as Check Point Soldier