Projects -> Documentary

"From Baghdad To Peace Country"

A National Film Board of Canada Production.

In 1999, a life-altering journey to Baghdad changed the focus of Canadian artist Deryk Houston's work. His canvas would be the Earth. His inspiration would be peace.

Unable to remain an outside observer of the crisis in Iraq, Deryk travelled there to witness first-hand the impact of international sanctions on the Iraqi people. Deprived of basic medicines, adequate food and clean water, an estimated half-million children under the age of five have died as a result of war and the economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations in 1991 (UNICEF).

Compelled to speak out, the artist embarked upon a unique nature art project designed to call attention to the situation of the children of Iraq. Using rocks, gravel, and hay, Deryk began to create large-scale art installations in the image of a mother and child against diverse landscapes around the world. With footage from Deryk's travels to Baghdad and Scotland, this documentary follows the artist as he works with his young son Sam to compose the largest and most challenges of his works: a permanent mother and child sanctuary located in the Peace River country of northeastern British Columbia.

Director: Sherry Lepage
Producer: Tracey Friesen
Executive Producer: Graydon McCrea
Editor: Mandy Leith
Cinematographer: Doug Sjoquist
Composer & Sound Designer: Dennis Burke

Running time 28 Minutes

Order number C9103 033

TO ORDER:
1-800-267-7710 (Canada)
1-800-542-2164 (USA)

Director
Sherry Lepage is a Victoria-based director with an abiding belief in the power of the arts to inspire and educate. After 14 years as a writer/editor for CBC TV news, she now works on documentary and award-winning educational projects. From Baghdad to Peace Country is her first film for the National Film Board of Canada. Lepage also co-wrote and co-producted Silence of the Strings: A Community Movement for Music which follows the fight of a group of young musicians to save a historic public school orchestra program.

Producer
Tracey Friesen began as producer for the National Film Board of Canada's Pacific Centre in May 2001 after several years working in Vancouver's post-production community. Since joining the NFB, Tracey's producer credits include: director Moira Simpson's Kosovo: Fragile Peace about democracy building in a post-conflict society, and director Tony Snowsill's Criminal Acts which follows the drama of an inmate-owned and operated theatre company. She is currently in production with the NFB's On the Lights by Chris Jaksa, a look at West Coast lighthouses and their keepers; and Glynis Whiting's Facing Obesity, a co-production with CBC The Nature of Things.