LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD

A pioneering diplomat and a political hero in her own right, Gertrude Bell has an untold story that is shared in LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD. Academy Award®-winning actor Tilda Swinton provides the voice of Bell in a documentary uniquely told solely from historical documents, private diaries, and numerous letters exchanged between Bell and her colleagues. After growing up in England and attending the University of Oxford, Bell’s independence launched her on an extended journey to foreign lands—a feat unheard of for women of her era. Bell’s widespread travels throughout Iraq, Iran, Syria, and the Arabian desert branded her an invaluable asset to the British Empire during WWI. History books dole out plenty of recognition for the work of her peers at the time, such as Lawrence of Arabia and Winston Churchill. But it was Bell’s intimate knowledge of Middle Eastern culture and innate ability to influence major political players that helped establish a stable, post-war Iraqi government and impact the region in ways that are still evident today. (In English and Arabic with subtitles) —A.B.