A scrappy, older Bengal tiger trapped in the Baghdad Zoo after being transferred from West Bengal for eating two children. Possessing a dark sense of humor and a gruff demeanor, he acts as an atheist philosopher questioning his predatory nature. He observes the chaos of the war-torn city while challenging the morality of his innate instincts and the existence of a higher power.

An American soldier in his early twenties who puts on an exaggeratedly macho front to project toughness. Despite his bragging about wanting to see combat, cracks in his demeanor reveal a deep core of sensitivity and vulnerability. He is easily rattled by the violence of the occupation and desperately values his military friendships.

An unsmiling, tough American soldier in his early twenties who is older and more experienced than Kev. He has seen real combat and operates with a highly selfish mindset. Unapologetic about looting during raids, he views items like Uday Hussein's gold-plated gun and a gold toilet seat as personal trophies meant for his own financial gain rather than objects of historical gravity.

An Iraqi gardener who formerly worked for the Hussein regime and currently serves as a translator for the United States military. A creator at heart, he is responsible for a once-beautiful topiary garden in Baghdad that now sits in ruins. He carries repressed anger over his past subjugation and the tragedies his family has endured, struggling to assert his autonomy under various occupying forces.

The infamous son of Saddam Hussein, who formerly employed Musa as a gardener at his palace. Brash and thoroughly ruthless, he expresses no remorse for his past atrocities and describes his torture methods with gleeful relish. He views his continued haunting of Baghdad as proof of his unending vitality rather than a punishment for his tyranny.

Musa's sister, whose tragic past is heavily tied to Uday Hussein's reign of terror. She serves as a focal point for Musa's intense grief, appearing as a haunting presence that anchors his memories of the once-beautiful topiary garden where she spent her final moments.

A civilian whose home is raided by American soldiers during the night. She tries frantically to de-escalate the situation and protect her bound husband, demonstrating the terrifying disruption everyday people face during the military occupation.

A civilian caught in a nighttime raid by the United States military. Rendered helpless in his own living room with his hands tied, his presence illustrates the chaotic and intimidating tactics of the occupation.

A young woman attempting to survive in war-torn Baghdad through sex work. She engages with American soldiers, demonstrating practical curiosity about physical injuries while following Musa's translations of crude demands.

A stoic Iraqi woman encountered in a bombed-out building in the city. She lost her hands at the age of fourteen and claims to be made of sand, offering a bleak, atheistic perspective on life and death in a city devastated by constant warfare.

A young child who loses half her face in an explosion. She represents the innocent civilian toll of the conflict, seeking comfort and answers in a war zone she cannot understand.