"This is Really How They Feel"

"This is Really How They Feel"
They Met the Resistance in Iraq

By MIKE FERNER

On one of those beautiful, fall Sunday mornings that can make you feel all is right with the world, filmmakers Molly Bingham and Steve Connors discussed their new documentary about Iraqis fighting the U.S. occupation, Meeting Resistance, 84 minutes of unflinching wallop destined to unhinge the way millions of Americans see their country's role in the world.

In May 2003, the same month that George W. Bush stood on an aircraft carrier off California declaring "Mission Accomplished," and a month after Iraqis began organizing a grassroots armed resistance, Bingham, was on assignment in Baghdad's Adhamiya district, hot on the trail of the last sighting of Saddam Hussein.

While there, the 39 year-old photojournalist got a tour of the largest Sunni mosque in Baghdad, named after the seventh century imam, Abu Hanifa. Bingham recalled that, as she drove away from the mosque, her translator mentioned that one of the men they'd just met said he was with the resistance. She filed this away in the back of her mind.

Before returning to the U.S. the next month, Bingham watched news reports, trying unsuccessfully to find out who was beginning to violently oppose the U.S. occupation and why. She talked with a photographer-colleague, Steve Connors, a former British Army MP, who had observed the same lack of coverage.

Between them they had 33 years experience covering conflict zones and decided to collaborate on reporting what till now has been the most visibly under-reported story of the Iraq war. By August they were back in Iraq for another 10 months, Connors to film and Bingham to write.

"This film is seen as somehow really radical," the 48 year-old Connors said. "I've covered 10 conflicts and this is the first time I've heard it's radical to cover the other side. As a German friend of mine asked, 'Americans consider this news?'"

Bingham added, "It's just a really important story. If your work is covering conflict, it's just what you do. You cover both sides, or in some cases three or four sides."

"Imagine if all the reporting from Chechnya was done through Russia's point of view," Connors interjected, "Or if all the news about Palestine came through Israel? In broader terms it's a ridiculous notion."

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