Marooned in Iraq - Gomgashtei dar Aragh (2002)

Synopsis

A famous Iranian singer, Mizra (Shahab Ebrahimi), and his two sons, partake in an epic journey across hazardous terrain in director Bahman Ghobadi's MAROONED IN IRAQ.

Set in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, the ultimate aim of the journey is to search for Mizra's missing ex-wife, who fled Iran to find solace in Iraq when the war pulled a sudden halt to her singing career.

The harsh terrain the men encounter results in experiences that run the full gamut of human emotions, from lighthearted, slapstick interplay, to the discovery of a mass grave of dead Iranians.

Omnipresent throughout the film are the sounds of Saddam Hussein's jets flying overhead, which serve as a reminder of the treacherous nature of the men's trip.

Iranian resident Ghobadi has created a moving tale of strength, resilience, and spirit in a time of extreme adversity.

He skillfully weaves a dizzying array of emotions into his tale, allowing him to muse on the human condition, and illustrate the plight of the Iranian people as they suffered in the fallout of the Gulf War.

Ultimately Ghobadi strives, and succeeds, to illustrate how his country was able to adapt, recover, and pull together in a time when it was physically and emotionally devastated. (From 1stvideo.com)

Cast:  Shahab Ebrahimi, Faegh Mohamadi, Allah-Morad Rashtian, Rojan Hosseini, Saeed Mohammadi, Iran Ghobadi

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