ABOUT

Today, as new wars rage in Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela and beyond, and as authoritarianism rises across the globe, the lessons of Fallujah remain urgent. The destruction of a sacred city, the silencing of its people, and the dehumanizing of entire populations reflect dynamics we continue to see today. In the United States, the return to expanded militarism, rollback of rights, and open attacks on the press and courts echo the very conditions that made Fallujah possible. The film stands not only as a record of history, but also as a mirror for our time, challenging us to confront cycles of violence and disinformation, and to ask what justice, accountability, and humanity mean in an age when truth itself is under siege.

The Road to Fallujah is a personal quest for understanding, a journey through one of the largest battles of the United States “war on terror” that transcends the myths and misconceptions that perpetuate cycles of hatred and violence.

In November 2004, the urban battle of the Iraq War took place in the city of Fallujah, changing 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 Iraqi human rights worker Rana Al-Aiouby and became one of the only un-embedded western civilians to live with the people of Fallujah and document their stories. Manning and Al-Aiouby were the only outsiders to gain direct access to this forbidden city, which to this day remains under controlled access to foreigners 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.

At its core, the filmmaker’s journey is one of stripping away complexity to find simple truths. Across time and conflict, a simple truth calls out. Those who care for the people, are the ones who endure.