Frankenstein z Bagdádu – Saadáwí Ahmad (2022)

After the American invasion and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Iraq plunged into the depths of chaos. Baghdad is on fire, and in the streets filled with rubble, a local drunkard and storyteller, Hadi, collects pieces of bodies torn apart by explosions and assembles them together to create one complete body. After all, everyone has the right to a proper burial. However, the assembled corpse disappears after one tumultuous night, and a wave of mysterious murders sweeps through the city. Reports begin to spread about a terrifying immortal criminal. Hadi soon realizes that it is his creation: a monster that needs human flesh to survive, first those responsible for its own death, and then all others who have sinned against someone. But in the midst of the war's turmoil, can anyone truly innocent be found? Saadawi's intelligent, satirical variation on Mary Shelley's classic novel, blending the supernatural with images of harsh reality, has received international acclaim, including the IPAF award and a spot on the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize. It is not just a unique depiction of life in a war-torn country; it raises universal questions about guilt, punishment, and justice that people around the world seek answers to.