The word “pastoral” hardly comes to mind when one thinks of Iraq, but Sari’s Mother begins with a series of beautifully composed images, shot with warm, saturated colors, of an Iraqi family at work and at play on their bucolic farm. Then the family’s hardships gradually surface, as it’s revealed that young Sari suffers from AIDS, and the effects of the ongoing war become more visible. The film’s subtle structure metaphorically links AIDS with the military crisis, as both social and individual bodies deteriorate, struggling to withstand the onslaught of foreign invaders. This short film’s depiction of familial intimacy is a powerful corrective to conventional coverage of Iraq; rather than emphasizing the country’s brutality or oppressive fundamentalism, Sari’s Mother reveals the austere grace and beauty of a woman struggling to protect her family.  TW