About The Film

Based on Eli Amar's novel, “Mafriah Hayonim," FAREWELL BAGHDAD (aka THE DOVE FLYER) is the coming-of-age story of Kabi, a Jewish teen living in 1950s Baghdad. He and his family face an uncertain future, as do all Iraqi Jews living in Baghdad at the time.

Many in this ancient Jewish community don’t want to leave the homes in which their ancestors lived for nearly two thousand years, but as tensions rise with the Iraqi government, more and more families are forced to escape. Kabi follows his uncle’s footsteps and joins the Zionist underground to help these displaced families immigrate to Israel, and quickly transforms from being a studious lad into an activist.

Shot entirely in the Jewish-Arabic dialect spoken in Baghdad, the Israeli actors of Iraqi-Jewish origin starring in the film had to memorize lines in a language they had previously only heard in their parents’ or grandparents’ homes.

Director Bio

Nissim Dayan is a director, producer, and actor born in 1946 in Tel Aviv.

Guest Speakers

coming soon

 Sponsors:

• Lela and Harley Franco
  
• Coffee provided by Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters
• Community Partner: University of Washington Samuel & Althea Stroum Center for Jewish Studies and Sephardic Studies Program