You are here:

Peshmerga

Name: Peshmerga
Director: Bernard-Henri Lévy
Released: 2016
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

4.6/10

Fair

2016

Director

Bernard-Henri Lévy

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Peshmerga succeeds in elevating Kurdish ability to act by centering the ethnic struggle for autonomy. It effectively disrupts traditional gender norms by documenting women in active combat and leadership roles. However, the film's narrow focus on the immediate military conflict results in a total absence of LGBTQ+ and disability representation. The scope remains strictly tied to the territorial and existential fight. Ultimately, the documentary provides a vital counter-narrative to Western-centric media by highlighting the multi-layered ethnic landscape and the specific cultural nuances of the Peshmerga.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Peshmerga have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The documentary focuses solely on the military and humanitarian aspects of the conflict. There are no visible LGBTQ+ characters or narratives within the combat-focused footage.

How does Peshmerga portray gender?

Excellent

Female Kurdish fighters are portrayed as central protagonists rather than passive victims. The film showcases women in high-stakes combat roles and military leadership positions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Peshmerga?

Excellent

The film centers Kurdish identity, providing depth to a population often treated as a monolith. It also highlights the protection of minority Christian monasteries in the region.

How does Peshmerga represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative frames the conflict as a secular resistance against religious obscurantism. It explores the struggle for self-determination against arbitrary borders and geopolitical instability.

Does Peshmerga include disability representation?

Minimal

While the film depicts the visceral realities of war, it lacks a specific focus on characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Subverts traditional gender norms by showcasing female Kurdish fighters in leadership and combat roles.
Provides high visibility for Kurdish ethnic identity, avoiding monolithic portrayals common in mainstream media.
Highlights the multi-layered ethnic landscape by documenting the protection of minority Christian monasteries.

Limited or Absent

Lacks any representation or narrative focus regarding LGBTQ+ individuals.
Does not feature characters with visible or invisible disabilities as part of the narrative.

Official Synopsis

From July to December 2015, with a camera team in tow, Bernard-Henri Lévy journeyed 1,000 km along the frontline separating Iraqi Kurdistan from Islamic State troops. The journey resulted in an illustrated logbook offering a special insight into an unfinished war with a global impact. Alongside the Peshmergas – Kurdish fighters imbued with a spirit of unfailing determination in their fight against obscurantism and jihadism, the film takes us from the heights of Mosul to the heart of the Sinjar mountains, passing the last Christian monasteries threatened with destruction along the way. A tale peopled by real characters, men and women whose faces are rarely seen...

How are these scores produced? →