Rent Turtles Can Fly (2004)
4.1 of 5 from 83 ratings
1h 33min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Shot on location in an Iraqi refugee camp on the Turkish border, director Bahamn Ghobadi's powerfully moving third feature is the first film to come out of Iraq since the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime. Set during the days leading up to the US invasion of Iraq, the story centres on the children struggling to survive in a harsh landscape where there are more landmines per square metre than anywhere else in the world. Soran aka 'Satellite' (Soran Ebrahim) is the leader of these children; however, his all-business attitude is disturbed when he meets brother and sister Henkov (Hiresh Feysal Rahman) and Agrin (Avaz Latif), whose bodies and souls have been irreparably damaged by Hussein's brutal legacy. - Actors:
- Soran Ebrahim, Avaz Latif, Saddam Hossein Feysal, Hiresh Feysal Rahman, Abdol Rahman Karim, Ajil Zibari
- Directors:
- Bahman Ghobadi
- Writers:
- Bahman Ghobadi
- Aka:
- Lakposhtha parvaz mikonand
- Studio:
- ICA
- Genres:
- Drama
- Countries:
- Iraq
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Reviews (2) of Turtles Can Fly
Beautiful and subtle portrayal of the after-effects of brutality. - Turtles Can Fly review by CP Customer
Set in the area of Kurdistan within Iraq (by the Turkish border), the vast majority of the cast are young children, playing refugees from around Iraq who have come together with the apparent main aim of being able to listen to the news.
The children spend their days picking land-mines, for which they derive an income firstly from the land-owner whose land they clear, and secondly by selling the mines.
The core of the story is around three unique children who are refugees from Halabja, the depth of whose story unfolds with the film.
This film is a beautiful portrayal of the consequences of war, and transcends its setting in the dog-days of Saddam's regime.
Nevertheless, it also helps portray some of the attitudes held by contemporary Iraqis and features some beautiful photography.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
A glimpse of the conditions of life for children in Iraq - Turtles Can Fly review by CP Customer
I have just watched this and was so utterley moved, I am still crying, A tribute to all children in war torn countries. the care shown towards each other and the amazing bravery of them all, especially Satellite, who endeavours to provide work [ picking mines from the fields] for all the children in the villages, and then the refugee. The adult males [ there didn't seem to be any females] were reliant on him to find satellite dishes and erect them so they could watch the news.It is also the story of a brother and sister and a heartstoppingly lovely child, and how they try and deal with their lives.We are all I think fairly ignorant of many details of life before and after Saddam , this gives us an insight that will remain embedded in the mind.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.