Gomgashtei dar Aragh

Marooned in Iraq[First-viewing, cinema at San Francisco Film Festival, Kabuki Theatre in the city)(Bahman Ghobadi)- Shahab Ebrahimi, Faegh Mohammadi, Allah-Morad Rashtian

Ghobadi's follow-up to the brilliant, `A Time for the Drunken Horses', is just as stunning both visually and thematically. The cinematography in this film was absolutely marvelous judging by the difficulty it requires in such climates and places and the result which came of it (also one must take into account the low-budget of films in Iran). It's a story of Mirza (Ebrahimi) and his two sons (Mohammadi and Rashtian) journeying in the Kurd-populated province, Kurdistan, in Iran, and eventually into Kurd-populated part of Iraq (across the border). Mirza is looking for his ex-wife, Hanareh. Mirza is also a master musician in Kurdistan and his sons are musicians as well. This film starts out pretty funny actually in the first act, and one gets the sense of a more mature three stooges type film in a very tough atmosphere. However the film gets much stronger in its second and especially third act, as the story is sadenning, powerful and makes some very good points. Although the director was trying to make many points, and I'm not sure if he managed to convey all of them well, he raised some great issues about the society and personal lives of people and especially women. The film also had a beautiful score, provided by Iranian-Kurdish musician, Arsalan Kamkar. Although I preferred, `A time for the Drunken Horses' as it was the deepest and saddest Iranian film I have seen in the past couple of years and makes it point much clearer than this film, Marooned in Iraq is also a very good film which I recommend to any fan of international cinema. 9/10

I really liked this Ghobadi movie about life for the Kurds on the Iraq-Iran border. One thing I really enjoy in movies from that neck of the world is the fact that we're not dealing with professional actors here. Most of the characters are played by regular Joes and it adds on to the experience. "Marooned in Iraq" also shows the daily life of the Kurds, being bombarded by Saddam's planes. Interesting look at the culture, at the way of making a living, like at the brick work. As in "A Time for Drunken Horses", I was also very moved by the look in the children's eyes. The cinematography is also beautiful. And I enjoyed the traditional music. Rent this one (or get it at your local library like I did) and see for yourself Mirza's odyssey. It plays almost like a treasure hunt. One negative note though: I saw the film on DVD and I suspect that the subtitles didn't really captured what the characters were saying. Unless Kurds are using 10 words for 1 English or French one, I got robbed of a lot of the dialog. Too bad.

Seen at home, in Toronto, on September 16th, 2005.

80/100 (***)

I must say that this film really amazed me. Marooned in Iraq did not have the best cinematography, or acting. What really amazed me were the characters Bahman Ghobadi created. The Kurdish culture defies all expectations of people living in a war torn area with so much grief upon them. Mizra a famous Kurdish singer and his two talented musician sons Barat and Audeh go on a journey to find Mizra's ex-wife. The journey takes place on the Iran-Iraq border during Saddam Hussein's attack on the Kurds. During the journey the results of Hussein's terror is seen as a constant reminder of the hardships that the Kurds have to endure. Even with all the reminders the trio set out on their journey and on their way comfort many grief stricken Kurds with their wonderful music.

The music in the film is so amazing that without knowing the lyrics I still felt entranced and could easily understand why music of the like is so cherished in a place torn apart by war. When ever music is not being played, and dialog not being spoken, you can hear the sounds of bombs and jets in the background. This addition of background sound creates much more than a setting. The sounds seem to be integrated with the Kurdish way of life.

It seems unbelievable that people that have gone through so much still have the heart for music and comedy in their lives. The ending of the film is very bitter sweet to me. The director leaves much to be imagined by the viewer. I like to think that everyone got exactly what they were looking for, even though they were not expecting to find it on the journey.

There where two very powerful scenes in the movie for me. The first being when the children threw the paper airplanes off the cliff side and the second being Mizra stomping over the Iran-Iraq border. They both feel like its the Kurds way of saying they cannot be bound to the land, and they won't be oppressed.

I would recommend this movie to anyone with an open mind, interested in learning about the Kurds from the Kurds, and willing to read subtitles. I do caution however, that the ending is typical of a middle eastern films, so do not expect the closure that comes with most western films.

I went to see this at a festival as a good-for-you topical film - kind of like eating brussels sprouts or something (apologies to those for whom brussels sprouts are a particular favorite). The filmmaker is an Iranian Kurd, and the film involves a journey from Iranian Kurdistan into Iraq.

Much to my surprise, it inspires a fair amount of laughter even in the context of extreme difficulties: a tent refugee camp for orphans in knee-deep mountain snow; voices and faces (never shown, but instead hidden in shame) disfigured by chemical weapons attacks and so on. These are present simply as part of the story's background, rather than like the shrill preachiness more typically seen on U.S. television news reports. Though I suppose one can't really fault journalists for being intensely serious when reporting on that part of the world.

The story is slim: someone is looking for something. They don't find it (her actually), but find other things which turn out to be of value. The man and his two (grown) sons have a larger-than-life bluster and recurring pratfalls which are a bit reminiscent of the Three Stooges. Laughter is good medicine, and these people have certainly earned the right to a heavy dose thereof. One example of the silliness: Our three travelers have their motorbike, clothes and musical instruments stolen by highway bandits disguised as police. Later, they get a ride on a truck and encounter two guys running through the snow in pastel-colored long undies and handcuffed together. They turn up a few times, always claiming to be cops but no one believes them, and they can't get any help.

Overall, an unexpected pleasure. Worth seeing.

I've seen films in DOZENS of different languages...To the best of my recollection; MAROONED IN IRAQ is the first film I have ever seen in Kurdish! What an interesting window into Kurdish culture, recent history, music and traditions director Bahman Ghobadi has provided us!

"...If I leave town, what will happen to my 7 wives and 11 daughters?" says son Audeh to father Mirza. With those words it really doesn't take much for the viewer to figure out why Audeh keeps taking on more wives, does it?

MAROONED begins with a claim that The Kurds, numbering about 30 million and forming sizable ethnic minorities in several different countries, are the largest ethnic group in the world without a country of their own. However, I was unable to confirm this claim.

Please be patient with MAROONED. About 15 or 20 minutes in, I said to myself, "If this doesn't flag my interest soon, it isn't going to!" Soon after, I was mesmerized! This film evoked just about every human emotion imaginable. About 3/4 of the way through, I touched my cheek, and to my immense chagrin, I found I had teared up, but yet, I still can't put my finger on why! 10 minutes later a scene in MAROONED proved that on-screen hysterical grief can be contagious! Watching and learning about these Western Asian traditionally nomadic people fascinated me. How they maintain perspective and their sense of humor despite having been the object of genocidal efforts from Sadam Hussein is absolutely inspirational!

Director Ghobadi has a penchant for pulling the rug out from under the viewer's feet. One moment the father and two sons family are doing a Three Stooges out-take, and the next moment are mourning the death of a friend; Are performing some music in public that's reminiscent of the Bar scene from Star-Wars, and a moment later they're staring genocide in the face. Ghobadi manages these rapid-fire transitions magnificently...KUDOS!

8.25/10*