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Turtles Can Fly

7.7

18,546

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Original title

LAKPOSHTA PARVAZ MIKONANDaka

AKA

Turtles can fly

Year

2004

Running time

95 min.

Country

Iran

Director

Bahman Ghobadi

Screenwriter

Bahman Ghobadi

Cast

Avaz Latif, Soran Ebrahim, Hirsh Feyssal, Saddam Hossein Feysal, Abdol Rahman Karim

Music

Hossein Alizadeh

Cinematography

Shahriar Assadi

Producer

Bahman Ghobadi Mij Films, Bac Films

Genre

Drama | Poverty. Disability. Social Drama. Childhood

Synopsis

2004: San Sebastian International Film Festival: Winner Golden Shell.
In a village in Iraqi Kurdistan, on the border between Iran and Turkey, the villagers desperately seek for a satellite dish antenna in order to keep updated on the impending attack of the Americans in Iraq… Coming from another village with his younger sister and her child, a mutilated boy has a foreboding: the war is getting closer and closer…

About the director Bahman Ghobadi:
Born in Baneh (Iranian Kurdistan) in 1969. After having worked for a radio station, he studied film at Tehran but dropped out before graduating. Between 1995 and 1999 he directed around ten short films, garnering awards at several national and international festivals. His first feature, A Time for Drunken Horses (2000) was presented at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, winning the Caméra d’Or and the International Critics’ Award. Songs of My Motherland (2002), his second movie, was also presented at Cannes (in the “Un certain regard” section) and received an award at Chicago.

Rankings Position

#61 Best Movies of the 21st century

Awards: 2006: Sur Awards: Nominated for Best Foreign Film

2004: San Sebatián: Golden Shell

2004: San Sebastian Film Festival: Best Picture - Golden Shell.

2005: Satellite Awards: nominated to Motion Picture, International.

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Critics' reviews

"I wish everyone who has an opinion on the war in Iraq could see Turtles Can Fly (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"A lyrical and heartbreaking reminder of the human toll of war."

Rene Rodriguez: Miami Herald
"Ghobadi in this pic displays a complete command of his art as he shifts between -- and even blends -- wrenching tragedy and amusing comedy"

Robert Koehler: Variety
"The hardships these children have faced are horrifying, and Mr. Ghobadi neither sweetens nor sensationalizes them, which makes 'Turtles Can Fly' all the more painful to watch."

A. O. Scott: The New York Times
"A cry of anguish for the youngest victims of every war."

Joe Morgenstern: The Wall Street Journal
"Turtles Can Fly creates a haunting reminder that collateral damage can't always be measured in casualty rates, and that it goes on long after the news cameras have left the scene."

Keith Phipps: AV Club
"A film whose strength derives from the stark power of its cinematic imagery."

Tom Dawson: BBC
"A film which leaves you despondent and inspired in equal measure by the folly of the world and the indomitability of its most disadvantaged peoples (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

William Thomas: Empire

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Ranking Lists Position

31 Little Gems: Little Known Movies I've Discovered (76)
36 My Top 10 Movies from 2004 (116)
68 My Favorite Asian Movies (66)

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Turtles Can Fly

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