Turtles Can Fly

aka: Lakposhtha hâm parvaz mikonand
Iran / Iraq 2004, 94 minutes
Dir. Bahman Ghobadi
In Kurdish with English subtitles
Rating: [M]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Drama / War, Youth

Feat. Soran Ebrahim, Avaz Latif

Aroview: The first widely-released film to emerge from post-Hussein Iraq, this wrenching tale concerns a raucous gang of children who scratch out a meagre and perilous living salvaging landmines on the Iraq-Turkey border.

Set in the days leading up to the US invasion in 2003, this, like the Kurdish dir.'s earlier A TIME FOR DRUNKEN HORSES, sketches out a propulsive, fragmented tale of the consequences of political and military mismanagement, especially for the young and vulnerable. Against the prevailing grimness, the youthful cast give a range of comic, resourceful and sensitive performances, which further underlines the poignant facts of their plight.

NZ International Film Festival 2005

Member Reviews

Average rating (Very Good). Showing 1-1 of 1 member reviews.

I find this review offensive! I don’t agree with this review. I agree with this review.
4 stars (Very Good) Near the Iraqi-Turkish border on the eve of an American invasion, a group of refugee children lead by 13-year-old Soran installs an antenna for villagers keen to hear of Saddam's fall. Haunting - the director has a very keen eye for detail. ~GenXGirl