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Deep Dive: 1001 Apples (2013)

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1001 Apples
1001 Apples is a documentary that focuses on five Kurdish survivors of the Anfal campaign, a genocide perpetrated by the Iraqi Ba'ath regime in 1988. This campaign resulted in the deaths of 182,000 Kurds, with their remains buried in 350 mass graves. The film presents the stories of these survivors, particularly highlighting Faraj, who escaped and later returned to Southern Kurdistan to raise awareness about the genocide. The film features the unique initiative of distributing 1,001 red apples studded with cloves to families of Anfal victims. These clove apples serve as a symbol of reconciliation and remembrance. The documentary won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Documentary Film in 2014, underscoring its impact and significance in documenting this tragic chapter of Kurdish history.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Faraj, a survivor who advocates for genocide awareness.
  • •See the distribution of 1,001 clove-studded apples.
  • •Follow the stories of five Kurdish survivors of the Anfal campaign.

Did You Know

•182,000 Kurds were killed during the Anfal campaign in 1988.
•Only ten individuals are known to have escaped from the mass graves.
•The film won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Documentary in 2014.
•Faraj returned to Southern Kurdistan after being brought to the U.S. with Human Rights Watch's help.

Perfect For

Kurdish historyGenocide studiesHuman rights advocacy