Rating of
4/4
A Modern Classic that All Should See!
Rich - wrote on 09/19/11
What a uniquely poignant story done with inspiring film-making! This is the first movie filmed in Iraq since Saddam Hussein took over in 1979. You need to understand that all the children in this film are real refugees, many of whom are disfigured. No Hollywood child actor, even with the best special effects, could successfully recreate the scene where one boy pretends his dangling stump of a leg is a machine gun. Also, the cast created the sets themselves with only limited local resources. This all helps give a more personal, realism to the movie which has a documentary-like feel. The story focuses on the lives of a group of refugee children living along the Iraqi-Turkish border right before the American invasion in 2003. Though overall their situation is terribly depressing, the story is told in a somewhat uplifting manner. There are beautiful moments of hope and tragic moments of utter despair. I enjoyed this movie even more the second time as I was able to recognize some symbolic references and understand more of the subtleties of the plot. The first time through I was just getting to know the characters. The second time through I was better able to empathize with the internal struggles of each child. The star of the film for me was not the leading boys but the young girl, Avaz Latif, who plays the solemn Agrin, a girl torn between the responsibility she feels towards her armless brother and her struggle to cope with the constant reminder of the horrors of her past. This is definitely a movie that grabs hold of your emotions and doesn't easily let go, a modern classic that all should see.
