In the Land of brothers is an Iranian drama film written and directed by Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli. It is an Iranian-French-Dutch international co-production.[1][2]In the Land of Brothers had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 22 January 2024.[3]
Premise
Under the shadow of the US 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.[4][5]
Cast
Hamideh Jafari as Leila
Bashir Nikzad as Qasem
Mohammad Hosseini as Mohammad
Marjan Khaleghi as Hanie
Hajeer Moradi as Asgari
Marjan Etefaghian as Negin
Mehran Vosuoghi as Behanam
Production
The film had the support of L’Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, Centre National Du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée, Institut Français, Netherlands Film Fund and Ciclic Région Centre Val de Loire, as well as the participation of Le CNC Région Ile-de-France, Asian Cinema Fund and Vipo.[6]
Murtada Elfadl, reviewing for Variety, wrote, " With deft storytelling and assured filmmaking, they tell the story of an extended family from Afghanistan and their 20-year odyssey to find shelter and home in neighboring Iran after the American invasion of 2011."[13]
Grace Han, reviewing at the Sundance Film Festival for Asian Movie Pulse, wrote, "This is the first co-directed feature for Amirfazli and Ghasemi; the first feature for acting co-lead, Mohammad Hosseini; and finally, the first time on-camera for co-lead Hamideh Jafari. Despite the many firsts, the feature is remarkably well-crafted, as Amirfazli and Ghasemi exhibit their natural inclination as storytellers. "[14]
Namarata Joshi of Cinema Express reviewing the film at Sundance Film Festival praised the directors apporoach, "The stories are told straight and simple, without sentimentality and stylistic flourishes. It’s quietude and thrift that lend the film its humane depth and overwhelming compassion. There’s clarity, conviction, and grace to their filmmaking."[15]
Release
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in the World Dramatic Competition on January 20, 2024.[16] It had its European premiere at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival on June 2, 2024.[17]
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