May 17, 2008

N E W S   &   A N N O U N C E M E N T S What's New?   |   Faculty in the News   |    News Archive   |   News Home Professor Aliza Kaplan’s Film Nominated for an Oscar My Country, My Country, a documentary film by Laura Poitras, co-produced by Aliza Kaplan, has been nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Documentary Feature. Scholars and critics are calling My Country, My Country “the definitive documentary about the war in Iraq."Although the film focuses on the January 2005 elections, it is a broader story about U.S. foreign policy post-9/11," Poitras says. "The use of pre-emptive military force and the goal of implementing democracy in the Middle East mark a radical shift in U.S. policy and world politics. I felt compelled to document this war and its consequences." Special BLS Screening of My Country, My Country Wednesday, February 7, 2007 7:00 p.m. Geraldo's, Feil Hall Sponsored by the International Law Society Motivated by a desire to understand the war from the Iraqi perspective, Poitras spent eight months leading up to the 2005 elections documenting the lives of Iraqis living under U.S. occupation. Her protagonist, a critic of the occupation, yet a firm believer in the need for democracy in Iraq, is an Iraqi medical doctor, father of six, and political candidate in the Iraqi Islamic Party. In the film, Poitras captures her protagonist speaking with Iraqi men and children being held captive without charge, negotiating with U.S. soldiers on their behalf, and the violent, tragic state that has overcome Iraq. Professor Kaplan became involved in the project in its early stages. She met Poitras in a yoga class, and the two became close friends. They would walk together after class, and during these walks, they talked about Poitras' idea for a film about the war in Iraq and how to raise funds for the project. During one of these conversations, Poitras asked Kaplan to help produce the film. "You make things happen," Poitras said. And along with Poitras and veteran producer Jocelyn Glatzer, she did. Kaplan assisted in all aspects of the film, from grant writing, to negotiating contracts in the United States and abroad, to collaborating on the story. Kaplan will spend the summer helping plan another film project with Poitras. Read more about the film. Read more about Professor Kaplan. Back to top

This page last modified on: July 30, 2007.