Review of Turtles Can Fly (2004) by Hytham E — 22 Sep 2012

Turtles Can fly is a realistic but film about Kurdish (Iraqi) refuses in Iraq war. How the cruelty of war decides the fate of the poor children of Iraq Kurdish people. The performances by the children are top notch and heartbreaking. I think director did his job very successfully to give a perfect idea about refuses and impact of war in their life. it's a powerful, heart-tugging portrait of the innocent victims of conflict.

The director Bahman Ghobadi created some excellent characters - Satellite, Agrin, Pashow, Shirkooh and baby. All the children did a mind blowing job. They are fantastic actors. Satellite, a leader for children and works as an ideal leader, who first comes to others problems to solve, has a creative artistic and loving mind, feeling his country and people. He is comparatively more knowledgeable than other kids even some of seniors. I respected the child who was so faithful to Satellite, who always got slapped by the elders.

One very alarming and definitely true issue here discussed, land mine removed by children. Lots of children lost their legs like Pashow or Satellite. Iraq war may be finished but its impact on those children will carry for long run. It was very touching scene, Agrin's brother armless boy how inactive land mine and collect it for sale and get some money for survive. Life was so cheap, only for 10 diners all children works with sell and some children died by exploration.

I would like to explain this baby characters, I know it was a very hard to manage him for take short, Baby did excellent job in film.