A Time for Drunken Horses

Year: 2000

Runtime: 80 min

Language: Kurdish

Director: Bahman Ghobadi

DramaWar

In war-torn Kurdistan, a family struggles to survive as their youngest fights for his life and requires a critical operation. Facing impossible circumstances, the siblings make a difficult decision: to arrange a marriage for their eldest sister to an Iraqi man who can provide care for the boy. However, their rejection at the border leads to a desperate and perilous race against time as they journey to secure his future.

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In the stark, snow‑clad mountains of war‑torn Kurdistan, a remote village clings to life amid the echo of conflict and the relentless chill of winter. The landscape is both beautiful and unforgiving, a place where every horizon is marked by barbed wire and the distant rumble of artillery, yet the daily rhythm of market stalls, shared tea, and whispered prayers hints at a resilient humanity that refuses to surrender to despair.

The heart of the story is a young family left orphaned by loss, forced to re‑forge its bonds in the wake of tragedy. Ayoub, the eldest son, steps into the role of caretaker, shouldering the weight of providing for his siblings while navigating a world that offers scant opportunities. Beside him, Madi battles a fragile health condition that threatens to eclipse any hope of a normal childhood, his quiet determination a counterpoint to the harshness surrounding them. Their sister, poised between youthful innocence and the sudden demands of adulthood, becomes an unspoken thread that ties the family’s fragile hope together.

When the possibility of a life‑saving operation for Madi hangs in the balance, the siblings confront a painful choice: they arrange a marriage for their sister with a family across the border, hoping the union will bring the resources needed to secure his future. The prospect of crossing into a neighboring land—marked by a contested frontier and cultural divides—casts a shadow of uncertainty, yet also kindles a flicker of optimism that drives them toward an impossible decision.

Against this backdrop of rugged terrain and looming uncertainty, the family’s resolve is tested by the simple act of moving forward. Their journey is painted with the muted hues of survival, the quiet heroism of everyday sacrifices, and the lingering question of whether hope can truly bridge the chasm carved by war. The story lingers in the space where love, duty, and desperation intersect, inviting the audience to wonder what lies beyond the next horizon.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 12:33

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