TEHRAN-The 7th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) concluded with a spectacular Golden Global Awards ceremony on July 27, with the Best Director award going to Iranian filmmakers Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli for their work “In the Land of Brothers”. 

A joint production of Iran, France, and the Netherlands, the film was commended for its fearless storytelling of a globally relevant issue, showcasing intricate familial relationships amidst socio-political turmoil, ISNA reported.

The drama tells the story of the lives of three individuals belonging to an extended Afghan family. Displaced from their homeland, they seek refuge in Iran, naively unaware of the arduous journey awaiting them to find a true sense of belonging.

Under the shadow of the U.S. invasion, an extended Afghan refugee family begins their new lives in Iran unaware of the ultimate price expected of them as outliers in this (un)welcoming environment: Mohammad, a young teenager and promising student; Leila, a woman isolated by geography, and Qasem who bears the weight of his family's sacrifice.

The cast includes Mohammad Hosseini, Hamden Jafari, Bashir Nikzad, Marjan Khaleghi, Hajeer Moradi, Marjan Ettefaghian, and Mehran Vosoughi among others.

Iran shelters approximately five million Afghan refugees, their legal status often tenuous, rendering them vulnerable to unforeseen circumstances that could lead to forcible deportation, separation from their loved ones, or even worse fates. Set against the backdrop of 2001, these three interconnected tales poignantly depict the struggles endured by these resilient individuals, whose lives teem with hope and joy. Yet, their existence remains confined within the clutches of a perilous state, forever edging on the precipice of uncertainty.

For their debut feature, Iranian writer/directors Ghasemi and Amirfazli were inspired by the experiences of their Afghan friends, and their uncompromising drama blends the personal and the political to largely impressive effect.

With the migrants’ inability to voice their feelings of isolation reflected in the subtle screenplay, Ghasemi and Amirfazli make their points through creative choices.

“In the Land of Brothers” had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and won the Best Director Award in World Cinema competition of the festival.

SS/SAB