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  The Road to Fallujah is a personal quest for understanding: A journey through the largest battle of the “war on terror” that transcends suffering and breaks through the myths and misconceptions that perpetuate cycles of hatred and violence. From the unheard voices of the Iraq war, we learn that through the realization of our shared humanity there is hope to build a more just and peaceful world. A joint production of American and Iraqi filmmakers, The Road to Fallujah includes exclusive interviews with Iraqi civilians, refugees, resistance fighters, members of the American Military and Congress, media analysts, Islamic scholars, and world leaders of peace, including Tariq Ali, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Thich Nhat Hanh. The Story In November 2004, the largest urban battle of the Iraq War took place in the city of Fallujah that changed the course and outcome of America’s ambitions in Iraq. Fallujah, considered by Iraqis to be a sacred and holy city and by the American military as “the hotbed of the insurgency,” was largely destroyed in an eight-day battle called “Operation Phantom Fury.” In January 2005, following the battle, filmmaker Mark Manning joined forces with an Iraqi human rights worker, Rana Al-Aiouby, and became the only un-embedded western civilian to live with the people of Fallujah and document their stories. Manning & Al-Aiouby were the only outside civilians to gain access inside this forbidden city which, to this day, remains under controlled access to outsiders and the international press. The revealing documentary film, The Road to Fallujah, brings to light the true consequences of war, humanizes the issues, and gives a voice to the people directly involved and affected on both sides. As one Military Commander said, “As went Fallujah, so went Iraq.” The Road to Fallujah gives a detailed analysis of the circumstances that led to the siege of Fallujah, the actual events of the siege itself, and the consequences of the battle that have shaped the present situation in Iraq and beyond.
contains exclusive interviews with: American Military Personnel Paul D. Eaton - Major General US Army "retired," Commanding General: Effort to Rebuild Iraqi Security Forces Capt. Allen Vaught - Head of Civil Military Operations, Fallujah 2003, Army Special Operations Command Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea - USMC Reserve, Fallujah, Senior Advisor to 5th Battalion Iraqi Army Sgt. Matthew Mardan - USMC, 3-1 Scout Sniper Platoon, Fallujah Adam Kokesh - Sergeant, Civil Affairs NCO, Fallujah Members of Congress Congressman Dennis Kucinich Congresswoman Maxine Waters With appearances by: Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and Senator John Edwards Peace Leaders Archbishop Desmond Tutu Thich Nhat Hanh Journalists Dahr Jamail - Unembedded journalist in Iraq, Author of "Beyond the Green Zone" Nir Rosen - Unembedded journalist in Iraq, Author of "In the Belly of the Green Bird" Islamic Scholars Tariq Ali - Historian and Novelist Reza Aslan - Religion Scholar, Author of "No God But God" Juan E. Campo, Ph.D. - Professor of Islamic Studies and the History of Religions, UCSB Families of slain Blackwater contractors in Fallujah Katy Helvenston - Mother of Scott Helvenston Donna Zovko - Mother of Jerry Zovko Tom Zovko - Brother of Jerry Zovko Iraqi Interviews (some have chosen to remain anonymous due to security issues) Rana Al-Aiouby - Humanitarian Aid Worker and Journalist Dr. Hameed Tajeldin - Former Medical Doctor, Fallujah Head of Fallujah General Hospital Head of Fallujah City Council Directors of Iraqi Human Rights groups Head of the Local Committee for Rebuilding, Fallujah Head of the Arab Nationalist Party Tribal and Religious Leaders Iraqi Civilians, Refugees, and Resistance Fighters
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