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 Five years following the infamous chemical and biological bombing of Halabja, Diyari, a Kurdish/ American good Samaritan, returns to his homeland to build an orphanage in what is left of Halabja. He meets Jiyan, a ten-year old orphan and a survivor of the chemical attack, doomed to live with a burn scar covering most of her right cheek.. A strong bond between the two ensues and later he names his orphanage after her. During the course of his stay in Halabja, Diyari meets a colorful bunch of townsfolk, many of whom remain physically and/or psychologically marked with the effects of the chemical agents. Among them is Jiyan's only living relative, Shérco, a twelve-year old who has also lost his family to the poison gas. While Shérco dreams of marrying her one day, Jiyan dreams of seeing flowers, a picture of which she finds on the back of a magazine. In addition to building the orphanage, Diyari brings a spark of hope and happiness to Shérco's and Jiyan's lives. However, this affair is short lived. As he leaves, the two orphans turn back to their lonely shells with very little light to look forward to - a familiar state of mind echoing throughout Halabja. Diyari departs with a promise to return, but now leaving a tearful Jiyan at the place where he first meet her - on a swing under a lonely tree on a small lonely hill.
Awards:
- Winner Special Jury Award ‐ New Director's Showcase, Seattle Int’l Film Festival 2002
- Winner ‐ Best film - International Film Festival Festroia , Setubal, Portugal, 2002.
- Special Mention - In The Spirit of Freedom Award ‐ 19th Jerusalem Film Festival 2002
- Winner - Best film - Rights to Have Rights Film Festival, Modena, Italy, 2003
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Festival
Rotterdam
(World Premiere)
(Tiger Competition)
Carlovy Vary
Göteberg
London
Pusan
(Asian premiere)
Montreal
(North American Premiere)
Jerusalem
(Special Jury Citation)
Seattle
(Special Jury Award) Burbank, CA
Galway, Ireland
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fukouka, Japan Setubal, Portugal (Dolphin Award)
Rio de Janeiro
Warsaw
Philadelphia
New Delhi
Brugge, Belgium
Turnhout, Belgium
Rome
HRW New York
HRW Boston
HRW Guam
The Wales
Prague, Czech Republic Singapore
Modena, Italy
(popular Jury Award)
HR FF Barcelona
Kurdish FF London
Exile FF, Göteborg
Med FF, Roma
Orlando, Florida
Asian FF, Vancouver
Mideast FF, Tokyo
Seoul
Dahka, Bangladesh
West Hollywood
Minneapolis/St Paul
Balafon FF, Bari-Italy Kurdish FF, Montreal
Temecula, CA
Kurdish FF, New York
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Kurdo Galali
Anwer Shékhan
Pisheng Berzinji
Choman Hawrami
Derya Qadir
Tara Ebdilrehman
Shahla Memed
Nasir Hesen
Rubar Ehmed
Niyaz Letif
Ehmed Salar
Perween Shahzade
Shehram Namiq
Gazi Gefuri
Ebas Jajleyi
Ebdila Pishderi
Omer Chawsheen
Director of Photography
Assistant Camera
Production Manager
Editor
Writer/Producer/Director |
Diyari
Salar
Jiyan
Shérko
Tavga
Shilan
Shireen
Mela Rostem
Jala
Jaji Heme
Mayor of Halabja
Kejal
Alan
Heme Tahir
Sware
Ebdila Pishderi
Omer Chawsheen
Koutaiba Aljanabi
Dilgesh Rosebiani
Anwer Shékhani
Jano Rosebiani
Jano Rosebiani |
