"My Country, My Country" is the same ol' same ol'

As elections approach in the U.S., it is worth looking around and seeing how other countries' democracies are faring. Egypt: bad. Mexico: depends on who you support. Iraq: awful, just awful. Unfortunately, "My Country, My Country" does not offer any unique explanation as to why Iraq's democratic outlook must be so dismal.

"My Country," a documentary by Laura Poitras, follows the life of an Iraqi Sunni, Dr. Riyadh, as he runs for a position on the Provincial Council of Baghdad. Juxtaposed alongside Dr. Riyadh's daily life and his campaign for office are scenes capturing the wider angle of the elections — brief snippets of the private contractors, military personnel, and international bodies busily prepping for the big day. While the documentary brings nothing new to the discussion on Iraq or how to improve the situation, it does accomplish the simple, cliché goal of making audiences appreciate how easy they have it in the good ole U.S.A.

The Iraq captured by Poitras' camera is not anti-American, but pro-Iraqi, pro-independence. Dr. Riyadh, a compassionate, almost selfless physician, is fully devoted to creating a better Iraq, but as roadside bombs, targeted assassinations, and random kidnappings force Iraqis to live each day in fear, the true price of democracy comes to light in the film. At one point, rockets go off in the Riyadhs' neighborhood, right by their home. With the first explosion, the family goes into chaos, everyone running in different directions, unsure what to do, vulnerable to the violence surrounding them.

While the blunt footage of "post-war" Iraq grips the audience, Poitras' film severely lacks a human relationship aspect that could have easily brought the documentary up another notch. During her eight months in Iraq, Poitras had the opportunity to capture more of the Riyadh's family dynamics, to give the strife in Iraq a realistic, human face, but such relationships are not explored well. When the Riyadh family learned that Dr. Riyadh's nephew had been kidnapped by rebels demanding money, Poitras had an amazing opportunity to take an in-depth look at the strain this horrific event must have put on the family. However, Poitras did not and instead the real complexities of the Riyadh family are kept an arm's length away from the audience. The only genuine show of emotion comes from, of all people, a U.S. military officer giving a briefing who takes a few moments to compose himself after talking about two Iraqi interpreters who were killed by insurgents.

"Life is a tragedy," Dr. Riyadh laments towards the end of the documentary. An oversimplified summary of the film it may be, but ever so precisely does that line capture the sentiments of the Iraqis. "My Country, My Country" offers a basic, brief window into the life of Dr. Riyadh and his family, but ultimately provides nothing more than a shallow overview of a very complex situation.

"My County, My Country" ( 90 minutes, at the Avalon Theater) is not rated. English subtitles.