Get Out Tonight: Heavy Metal in Baghdad at Harvard Exit

Face it, folks: it's fall in Seattle, and along with cooler nights, leaves changing color, and the beginning of football season, fall also marks the annual Scion independent film series. Yes, it's corporate-sponsored lifestyle marketing aimed at the hip youth demographic, and yes, they just want the kids to buy their damn cars, but we're willing to shill for it when 1) it's free and 2) the films shown are actually worth seeing. The series kicks off tonight with Heavy Metal in Baghdad, the first full-length film made by the good people at Vice:

Heavy Metal in Baghdad is a feature film documentary that follows the Iraqi heavy metal band Acrassicauda from the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 to the present day. Playing heavy metal in a Muslim country has always been a difficult (if not impossible) proposition, but after Saddam's regime was toppled, there was a brief moment for the band in which real freedom seemed possible. That hope was quickly dashed as their country fell into a bloody insurgency. From 2003-2006, Iraq disintegrated around them while Acrassicauda struggled to stay together and stay alive, always refusing to let their heavy metal dreams die. Their story echoes the unspoken hopes of an entire generation of young Iraqis.

We saw the film at SIFF this year, and it's a striking look at how hard it is to rock out in a country where growing your hair long and headbanging is seen as an affront to religion. Hell, even Matt Silvie liked it, and y'all know what a tough critic he is. Heavy Metal in Baghdad plays tonight at the Harvard Exit, and it's free with RSVP. The film is preceded with a "cocktail reception"--they always claim there will be "cocktails" when in actuality they hand out tickets for free beer--and music care of DJ Cide, who, with his metal-oriented bent, will surely provide the perfect soundtrack to the Obese-sponsored night. Following the film, there's a Q&A with an unnamed "special guest."

Meanwhile, one of the best things about the entire film series (besides the films themselves) is the Scion-themed swag. In the past, we've picked up messenger bags and oversized t-shirts and sweatshirts for the whole family. What will the free goodies be this year: Scion trucker hats, Scion beer cozies, or even the coveted Scion reusable grocery tote? You'll just have to attend the film series to find out.

8pm doors, 9pm film // Harvard Exit // 807 E Roy St // Free with RSVP, 21+