The media has portrayed the conflict in the Middle Eastern as Westerners versus Arabs, soldiers versus terrorists. However, movie director Beth Murphy goes beyond this simplistic approach in her documentary, “The List.”

“The List” follows Kirk Johnson, a former USAID employee who assisted the war effort in the early 2000s with his knowledge of the Middle East and fluency in Arabic.

The film confronts a tough reality: Iraqis who have helped the U.S. government receive little to no protection, despite threats to their lives by terrorist organizations. By 2010, Johnson compiled a list of several thousand Iraqis in need of refuge, and he has formed “The List Project,” which aims to press the U.S. government to offer protection to their Iraqi allies. What makes this film so visceral is the shock factor that comes from the wrongdoings depicted in the stories of several Iraqi citizens.

“This is a story that people don’t usually get to hear,” says Paula Elias, the co-director of Citizen Jane Film Festival.

Director of photography and film editor Kevin Belli says he believes that there are deeper implications by pointing out the global repercussions America’s behavior might cause.

“If we don’t do the right thing as a country and save the lives of those Iraqis that have helped us, then we are sending a message to other conflict areas that helping the U.S. is like signing your own death sentence,” Belli says.

The issues shown in “The List” explore how America has failed to protect locals who help the war effort in countries we have invaded when things go awry. The film ultimately makes an inspirational call to action for justice. A panel discussion following the film will feature Iraqi citizens affected by this issue, making “The List” a must-see for this weekend.