Baghdad, Iowa is the latest film by Usama Alshaibi and is a metaphysical road trip across a dreamy landscape and into a tortured psyche.

The Underground Film Journal has seen an advance screener of the film and we can attest that it’s one of the best of Alshaibi’s considerable career. The film deals with the themes of desire, identity and mortality that the filmmaker has been exploring in past work such as Profane and American Arab; yet through an intimately personal and surreal visual prism. Look for it on the upcoming festival circuit.

In related personal news, Alshaibi was recently diagnosed with having Keratocystic odontogenic tumors along his jawbone that he is in the process of having removed. His wife Kristie has set up Go Fund Me account, if you would like to help out with their medical expenses.