"Turtles Can Fly" isn't your typical war film. Instead of grand battle scenes and political rhetoric, it dives deep into the lives of Kurdish refugees caught in the crossfire. If you want a movie that sheds light on the human cost of war, this is a must-watch.
Forget pre-conceived notions of a liberal diatribe. The film takes place before the American invasion, with characters yearning for Saddam Hussein's fall. The focus is on survival, not political agendas.
Set in a refugee camp on the Turkish-Iraqi border, the film follows a group of orphaned children, led by the enterprising Satellite (Soran Ebrahim). Their grim reality involves disarming landmines (considered "American" due to their value, not origin) to sell to arms dealers. The danger is ever-present, with a heartbreaking scene showcasing the "Boy With No Arms" (Hirsh Feyssal) disarming a mine with his lips.
Satellite develops a connection with Agrin (Avaz Latif), burdened by a past trauma of being raped by Iraqi soldiers. Her armless brother Hyenkov offers a poignant contrast, showering their young son Risa with love despite Agrin's lingering pain.
Life in the camp is harsh. They live in makeshift shelters, scavenge for money, and desperately crave news about the coming invasion. A humorous scene depicts the collective effort to assemble a makeshift antenna, just to catch a glimpse of CNN. The promise of liberation from Saddam fuels their hope.
"Turtles Can Fly" is a powerful film that doesn't shy away from depicting the brutal realities of war. It humanizes the conflict, reminding us of the innocent lives caught in the middle. While not entirely bleak, the film's strength lies in its unflinching portrayal of resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship.
8.175/10.
Forget pre-conceived notions of a liberal diatribe. The film takes place before the American invasion, with characters yearning for Saddam Hussein's fall. The focus is on survival, not political agendas.
Set in a refugee camp on the Turkish-Iraqi border, the film follows a group of orphaned children, led by the enterprising Satellite (Soran Ebrahim). Their grim reality involves disarming landmines (considered "American" due to their value, not origin) to sell to arms dealers. The danger is ever-present, with a heartbreaking scene showcasing the "Boy With No Arms" (Hirsh Feyssal) disarming a mine with his lips.
Satellite develops a connection with Agrin (Avaz Latif), burdened by a past trauma of being raped by Iraqi soldiers. Her armless brother Hyenkov offers a poignant contrast, showering their young son Risa with love despite Agrin's lingering pain.
Life in the camp is harsh. They live in makeshift shelters, scavenge for money, and desperately crave news about the coming invasion. A humorous scene depicts the collective effort to assemble a makeshift antenna, just to catch a glimpse of CNN. The promise of liberation from Saddam fuels their hope.
"Turtles Can Fly" is a powerful film that doesn't shy away from depicting the brutal realities of war. It humanizes the conflict, reminding us of the innocent lives caught in the middle. While not entirely bleak, the film's strength lies in its unflinching portrayal of resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship.
8.175/10.
