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I have watched Bekas during Stockholm festival and must admit it has certainly delivered something. Each of the kids' story, their surroundings, Iraq landscape under Saddam's regime along with the Kurds conflict can be a tempting subject for a heartfelt depressing drama. Bekas has managed to combine all and make us laugh. With all the empathy and the connection we made with the 2 kids, we still laughed. Perhaps how intact their innocence and spontaneity were portrayed was the secret behind such a good movie. Bekas is certainly not meant to be a comedy thou (in the classic sense); I think it is a real fantasy and an opportunity for a lot of us to reflect on what we had throughout our childhood.

Nowadays its a customary to take the acclaimed short movies to stretch for the feature films by the incoming directors. All they need is a good producer and the distributors, the actors can be managed with the new faces. Yep, this movie was inspired by the short film of the same name like 'Short Term 12', 'District 9' et cetera. Most importantly, these films met a great success because of the beautiful story, characters and narration.

This movie was directed by the Iraq born filmmaker who is now residing in Sweden. Most of the recent movies, in fact, all of them outlines Iraq as a war field. But this film was such a poetic, shot in the real locations, brings a calm and beautiful 90s Iraq on the screen that you have probably never seen in a decade. The main two characters were inspired by the director and his elder brother, when they were kids and lived in the Kurdish part of Iraq. But the story was marginally fictional except the dreams of the children from the third world.

I must agree, this movie practically describes how the influence of American products, films and culture affects the young kids from a country like Iraq. Their over obsession leads to dream bigger without knowing that's impossible to make it true. If you are a non-American you would have had such obsession in your childhood on soft drinks like Cola, Pepsi, or fast foods like from KFC, McDonald, or TV cartoons and Marvel Comic books et cetera. So, in some way, somewhat it's a tiny part of your story as well.

"If a family is united, they will be strong."

There is no exact one word translation for 'Bekas'. It means 'homeless orphans' according to the director's explanation during an interview at one of the film festivals. This movie is all about two young Kurdish boys, Dana and Zana, and Superman, Michael Jackson and Coca Cola. If we talk about the story, it's when 'Slumdog Millionaire' meets 'In This World'. The movie begins similar fashion to SDM where kids are playing football and after that go straight to their business, instead school. In fact many scenes resemble above two films I mentioned and also other films. When the brothers get separates, that kind of reminded me 'The Gods Must Be Crazy 2'. Thus the screenplay originality lacks, other than that it is nothing less than to consider a wonderful film.

There are some scenes that make you go edge of your seat. Grabs our attention, creating tensions and thrills in the scenes like check- post and landmines. Emotions did not strike well because it's seemed more like a dark comedy. A bit commercialised than being realistic. The music was so good, awesome blend to portray the adventures, along with the two great performances, ignited the movie to emerge as a pleasant family entertainer. There might be millions of reasons to blame this movie because of similarity with other films and other stuffs, but overall I felt happy. Criticisers still going to criticize it, despite those flaws definitely worth to check it out.

8/10

I wasn't expecting much out of this movie. Looking at the movie poster thought it's just a funny kiddie movie set in Iraq but I was wrong. It was one of the best regional movies I have ever watched. The director has done an amazing job with the direction and working with the kids. The small kid was just out of the world, he cud easily beat the best when it comes to acting. I wonder why such kids don't get an opportunity on the bigger stage. The movie is sad but very funny at the same time. I can't imagine there are still innocent kids living like that even now, matter of fact in even worser conditions. I personally wud like to forget the sadder part and keep the funny moments in my memory, not that am not concerned abt their plight. I wud like to recommend this movie to everyone. This is must watch movie.

There's almost always something special about a director's first feature film, as the charm comes from its inherent rawness, and perhaps willingness to take greater risks to get something finished. And this lack of experience at the helm also meant an appeal that audiences would be more forgiving, and open their hearts out in giving the film a chance. The magnificence is, when it works, like Bekas, you're going to embrace it wholeheartedly and completely.

Writer-director Karzan Kader draws deep from his own personal experiences of having to escape Kurdistan, Iraq as a young kid in the 90s, to come up with Bekas, a road trip tale of hope, following two orphaned boys Dana (Sarwar Fazil) and younger brother Zana (Zamand Taha), who have to fend for themselves at every corner and turn, growing up under harsh circumstances with little adult supervision. They have to rely on their street smarts, brotherly love and loyalty to each other to get themselves through day by day, earning their keep as shoe shiners for pittance, and homelessness meant sleeping out in the open at any random, but available rooftops.

And you would be mistaken to think that Kader would take the easy route out and flood his film with plenty of melodrama, to tug at your heartstrings at the plight of the boys. Instead, he fills his narrative with plenty of anecdotes and shenanigans that the two boys get into, which often result in either one, or both, being at the wrong end of a slap, ear pull, or in terms of greater insult, the slipper. But this is a story about growing up, and growing a hide that's thick to ensure survival, that the boys will have you in stitches most times when they get to the central plot device - of getting out of their predicament, and relying on any of their own means possible to get to America, and meet their idol Superman, whom they hope to enlist in a fight against Saddam Hussein, and to resurrect their dead parents.

Despite being non-actors, both boys Dana and Zana are set to charm your socks off with their banter, sibling rivalry, and inevitably, love. Kader knows when to push the right buttons in crafting scenes that will make you root for them to escape impossible situations, or to cheer them on as they encounter adversity after adversity in getting to their eventual destination, which is "just miles away" on a map that looks more like one from a discarded Risk board game. Anyone who thought Quvenzhane Wallis from Beasts of the Southern Wild, should take a look at these two boys, who are naturals despite their penchant to raise their voice most of the time. Whether or not it's Dana finding first love, or Zana being disappointed time and again by his older brother, these two boys put on a masterclass performance that makes your heart go out to them.

Filmed on location, the cinematography is excellent, capturing scenes seldom seen by many unless you've travelled to the region. And there's no more to ask for when the visuals have aural accompaniment that accentuated mood to provide that extra dimension of feelings. Through a road trip, Kader manages to link scenes up perfectly, as the boys go from episode to episode atop their donkey, and every other conceivable mode of transport from cars to trucks, to evade detection and capture as they pass through guarded borders. Whether or not they reach their destination, would be immaterial by the time the story ends, painting a bigger picture of hope and love, narrative themes which are far more powerful than the fictional deity they seek to locate in a foreign land, whom they probably found in each other.

Bekas is one fine film set in the Middle East, such as Son of Babylon, that will endear. A definite recommendation!

Bekas is the tale of two orphans, Zana and Dana in Iraqi Kurdistan. It is set in a period of time where the Kurdish people were living under rather humbling conditions and were still oppressed by the dictator Saddam Hussein.

This is beautifully portrayed in the movie trough the eyes of Zana and Dana. Besides being authentic in its portraying, the movie also accomplishes to be very witty and funny at the same time and makes you fall in love with the two interesting and different characters that Zana and Dana are.

This movie is by far one of my favorites and a must see for everyone, okay I am saying this 'partly' because I myself am Kurdish, but it really is a good drama, funny at times and more importantly very authentic. I definitely recommend this movie.

This is a great little movie (no pun intended), about friendship and about dreams. About growing up and about much more that covers part of life as well. It might seem impossible at times (especially considering what our main actors try to achieve), but it's always engaging enough to make you interested in what's going on currently.

With a movie like this, it's a question of how'd you end it. Because you do know that one thing will not happen. But then again, this movie has a way to show you that there can be more. That fate might intervene in your favor. Whatever that might be and whatever it will show you. The kids are really great and natural

It is good and all but the writing part felt missing in this movie

I just wanna say one of the best movie i had seen. Karzan all kurdish people proud of you

A very well cooked movie by the director.

Thanks to those kids who made this film more enjoyable and more lively. Those two kids are gem.

Specially the smaller one. I think he has god gifted acting talent. I wonder how a 6 /7 years old boy act like a regular actor. It was mind blowing.

This film had a very great message.

People who love wold cinema should watch this film.

Written and Directed by Kurdish director, Karzan Kader, Bekas (means parentless in Kurdish) is inspired by real life events which happened in Kurdistan region of Iraq in 1990. The movie narrates the story of two orphaned shoe-shine boys - six year old Zana (Zamand Taha) and the elder Dana (Sarwar Fazil). While the young Zana is feisty, the elder Dana, on the threshold of adolescence, is more worldly wise. After stealing a few glimpses of Superman from a hole in the wall of a movie hall, both Zana and Dana are in awe of Superman's powers. At once, they intend to go to America, where they believe Superman resides, to befriend him and live with him. They also plan to bring Superman back to their home to punish their tormentors and to resurrect their deceased parents. Zana even makes a hit-list of his tormentors topped by Saddam Hussein. They fashion their own innocent - yet, innovative - solutions to overcome the real world constraints they face like arranging passports, funds or border crossings. For their transport, they procure a donkey which sports a BMW logo on its forehead and christened by Zana as (yes.. oh yes..) Michael Jackson.

Thus unfolds a road movie which captures the eventful journey of its two young protagonists through a bleak landscape that is poised on the brink of war. In this journey, the young duo rendezvous with a bevy of varied and interesting characters representing a veritable microcosm of humanity in its myriad natures and predispositions. It is also a journey which would test and retest the resilience of their brotherly bond only to reinforce it stronger. There is also a minor sub-plot involving Dana's liking for a Helliya, a Professor's daughter.

Writer-Director Karzan Kader successfully juxtaposes the sparkling and almost immaculate innocence of his two young leads through their journey presented as a poetic pursuit of their dreams with the harsh realities of a world they inhabit which is torn by strife and poverty. In Zamand Taha (Zana) and Sarwar Fazil (Dana) who play the two brothers, he finds a set of non-actors who are complete naturals and play, nay, live their roles to perfection. They share a warm chemistry and charm their way effortlessly into our hearts. He peppers his narrative with several small characters which leave an imprint in the viewer - be it Baba Khaled (father figure), Mr. Osman (a friend of their father) or the old man they meet on the road.

Kader's movie presents his homeland as a place populated by essentially good and simple people who are roughened by the ravages of war, oppression and limited means. Cinematographer Johan Holmquist deserves a special mention for capturing the bleak landscapes with a surreal beauty.

A road movie that captures the strong bonding of love, affection and togetherness between its two young protagonists, this is also in equal parts a tale of hope, love and loyalty that is laced with delightful humour, moments of thrill, suspense, poignancy and warmth that is sure to tug at the viewers' heart.

Bekas was the opening movie at the Bangalore International Film Festival (BIFFES 2013) and has been appreciated at several international film festival festivals.

I have watched Bekas and must admit it has certainly delivered something. Each of the kids' story, their surroundings, Iraq landscape under Saddam's regime along with the Kurds conflict can be a tempting subject for a heartfelt depressing drama. Bekas has managed to combine all and make us laugh. With all the empathy and the connection we made with the 2 kids, we still laughed. Perhaps how intact their innocence and spontaneity were portrayed was the secret behind such a good movie. Bekas is certainly not meant to be a comedy thou (in the classic sense); I think it is a real fantasy and an opportunity for a lot of us to reflect on what we had throughout our childhood.

This is a story of two Iraqi brothers who were orphaned by Saddam's regime. They strive to go to America in order to find Superman.

"Bekas" may look cute in the trailer, but it is in fact a heartbreaking drama. The two young boys live in this harsh land, both geographically, politically. They have no money to live on, and are constantly bullied and even beaten up by other villagers. In order to survive, the older brother gives the younger brother a glimmer of hope by saying that they will go to America to find Superman. As the story unfolds, there is more heart wrenching incidents. What I find the saddest is the older brother's ulterior motive in what appeared to be a white lie. It is so sad that a bottle of Coca Cola is the closest they will get to experiencing the United States.

"Bekas" reminded me of Steinbeck's literary classic "Of Mice and Men" and the award winning film "No Man's Land". The plot is simple and yet engaging, touching many heart strings along the way. I hope "Bekas will get more widely seen and recognised, as it deserves to be.

Unfortunately there's not a alot of resources or much audience in Kurdistan but it didn't stop the hopes of having a worldwide award winning movies like bekas ,

the story , direction, cinemagraphy, acting , and the end are really good it absolutely desev 10/10

( bashtrenfilmy kurde )

The movie has created quite a buzz in Bangalore International Film Festival BIFFES 2013. Before watching, I had read the synopsis and felt this one is going to really start boring me at least some part of the movie. But seriously, i never felt bored even a moment through out the movie. Excellent direction with great choice of Camera angles and shot selection.

The shot above the lake till it shows the brothers on Long ears with celebrations is outstanding. The music or background score compliments the movie from start till the end. The performances by the two little boys are outstanding and the little one made me speechless.

Edge of the seat scenes and holding your attention till the end from the start is outstanding. Director Kader strikes the right chords with his direction and the length of the movie. The climax seems just right and very well shot.

Beautiful tale of 2 homeless kids and their attempt to achieve an impossible dream of going to US 🇺🇸 and meet superman. Its totally filled with innocence and warmth of brotherhood.

A must watch for all Movie Lovers

Brothers, hardships and hope well recounted. A valuable story sharing a glimpse of a reality far from ours.

I really loved this movie. The chemistry between 2 brothers touched my heart. You will fall in love with this sweet story and their innocence.

All the beautiful cinematic agents combined in this heart touching movie.

What I enjoyed about this film is that what the director did was he put so much motivation in it to make people feel how Kurdish people feel in risk. This movie is a very good roadtrip film and should get a better score on IMDB Hollywood should make Kurdish Films. 8.5 for the ranking very clear film and enjoyable.

The children's acting was very good. it was a sincere, fun and sad film. there were stereotypes, but there were surprises. it was definitely a movie that I liked very much.