Jiyan (2002)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

Jano Rosebiani

Writer:

Jano Rosebiani

Stars:

Kurdo Galali, Pirshang Berzinji, Choman Hawrami

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kurdo Galali	...	Diyari
Pirshang Berzinji	...	Jiyan
Choman Hawrami	...	Sherko
Enwer Shexani	...	Salar
Derya Qadir	...	Tavga
Rubar Ehmed	...	Jala
Niyaz Letif	...	Haci Heme
Tara Ebdilrehman	...	Shilan
Shehle Mihemed	...	Shirin
Ehmed Salar	...	The Mayor
Nasir Hesen	...	Mela Rostem
Perwin Shahzade	...	Kejal
Shehram Namiq	...	Alan
Gule Heme Resui	...	Baci Gule
Ibrahim Seld	...	The Mason

Storyline

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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

halabja | hope | political oppression | kurdistan | love | 

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Taglines:

Love, life and acid gas. The Story of Halabja the second Hiroshima

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Iraq USA

Language:

Kurdish

Release Date:

12 April 2002 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Evini Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Masterful storytelling and a very moving film

This film made me both laugh and cry back and forth. The music and the imagery are poetic and enchanting. here is a film that deals with one of the most tragic events of our time and yet makes you walk away with hope. It puts us in cozy closeness with a people most repressed and most ignored - the Kurds, whom it would be hard to forget after seeing Jiyan. I give it two thumbs high up.