Turtles Can Fly (2004)

Turtles Can Fly (original title: Lakposhtha parvaz mikonand) is a 2004 Kurdish-language war drama film written and directed by Bahman Ghobadi. Set in a Kurdish refugee camp near the Iraq–Turkey border on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the film presents the lives of war-affected children with a powerful blend of realism, heartbreak, and rare poetic depth.

Detailed Summary

Life in the Minefields

The film centers on Satellit (Soran Ebrahim), a teenage boy who has become the de facto leader of a group of refugee children. Nicknamed for his ability to install satellite dishes, he organizes the children into a sort of informal labor force that clears landmines from fields to sell them for scrap. This dangerous work symbolizes both their poverty and resilience.

The children are resourceful, entrepreneurial, and determined to survive, but the looming war and the harshness of their environment strip away any innocence they might have had left. Satellite, despite his youth, is remarkably pragmatic and shows strong leadership, masking a deeper yearning for something better.

The Arrival of the Mysterious Trio

Things shift dramatically when three newcomers arrive in the village: Agrin, her armless brother Hengov, and a blind toddler whom Agrin treats with distant hostility. Hengov has prophetic dreams, and it’s hinted that he has suffered immensely under the rule of Saddam Hussein. Agrin, silent and emotionally scarred, is immediately noticeable for her beauty and her trauma.

As the story unfolds, we learn that the boy she travels with is not her brother, but her baby—conceived through rape by Iraqi soldiers. Her disgust and self-hatred lead to her neglect and eventual horrifying decision about the child’s fate.

Prophecy, War, and Disillusionment

Hengov’s visions foreshadow events with chilling accuracy. He predicts the coming war and the fall of Saddam’s regime, but this news brings no comfort. Satellite, fascinated by Agrin, tries to win her over, but she remains emotionally detached and unreachable.

The war begins, as predicted. American tanks roll in. Saddam’s regime collapses. The villagers, who had been watching with anticipation and hope, do not find joy or salvation. Instead, the overwhelming sense is one of emptiness, of trauma too deep to be healed by any political change.

Movie Ending

The film’s final act is tragic and haunting. Agrin, unable to live with her past, drowns the blind toddler—her own child—and later takes her own life by jumping off a cliff. Hengov, devastated by her death, disappears into the wilderness. Satellite, who once was full of energy and ambition, is injured—his leg mangled, possibly from a mine or from self-harm (the film leaves this ambiguous). The last image of him is of a broken boy, limping away, no longer the energetic and confident leader of his peers.

There is no triumphant ending, no liberation. The U.S. invasion changes the backdrop but not the suffering of these children. The film closes on a deeply sobering note: war may shift regimes, but for those like Agrin, Hengov, and Satellite, the wounds remain permanent.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Turtles Can Fly does not have a post-credits scene. The film ends definitively with its final haunting image, and there is no additional content after the credits roll. Given the serious and grounded tone of the movie, this is in keeping with its style—no extras, no frills, just stark, unfiltered storytelling.

Type of Movie

Turtles Can Fly is a war drama, but it also functions as social realism and coming-of-age tragedy. The film blends a documentary-like approach with symbolic storytelling, offering a rare, gut-wrenching look into the effects of war on children.

Cast

• Soran Ebrahim as Satellite
• Avaz Latif as Agrin
• Hiresh Feysal Rahman as Hengov
• Abdol Rahman Karim as Pashow
• Saddam Hossein Feysal as Riga
• Ajil Zibari as Shirkooh

The cast features mostly non-professional actors, many of whom were real-life refugees. This casting choice adds a powerful layer of authenticity to the film.

Film Music and Composer

The music, composed by Hossein Alizadeh, is minimalist and deeply emotive. Traditional Kurdish instrumentation is used sparingly, with haunting melodies that underscore the loneliness, sorrow, and occasional beauty of the children’s lives.

Filming Locations

The film was shot on the Iraq-Turkey border, using actual refugee camps and villages as the setting. The landscapes are vast, dusty, and desolate, reflecting the harsh reality of the characters’ existence. The minefields and mountainous terrain are not just backdrops—they are active elements in the narrative, symbolizing the ever-present danger and emotional scars of war.

Awards and Nominations

Turtles Can Fly received widespread acclaim and several international accolades:

• Berlin International Film Festival (2005) – Glass Bear and Peace Film Award
• San Sebastián International Film Festival – Golden Shell (nominated)
• Chicago International Film Festival – Silver Hugo
• Rotterdam International Film Festival – NETPAC Award
• Academy Awards – It was Iraq’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film, though it was not nominated.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Director Bahman Ghobadi was born in Iranian Kurdistan and drew upon personal experiences and regional stories for authenticity.
• Many child actors in the film were actual war refugees and had no prior acting experience.
• The blind boy in the movie was played by a blind child in real life.
• Several scenes were improvised or altered on the fly due to the difficult filming conditions and the non-professional cast.
• Ghobadi refused to use studio sets; everything was filmed on location, often in dangerous or unstable areas.
• Shooting in an actual minefield (albeit cleared) made the realism uncomfortably intense.

Inspirations and References

The film was inspired by real events and stories from Kurdish refugees living near the Iraq-Turkey border. While not based on a specific novel or book, its narrative pulls from collective trauma, memories, and regional folklore. Ghobadi also builds on the neorealist tradition of filmmakers like Vittorio De Sica, mixing political urgency with intimate storytelling.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No officially released alternate endings exist for Turtles Can Fly. However, Ghobadi has mentioned in interviews that several character scenes were trimmed for pacing. Some scenes showing the aftermath of the U.S. invasion and its effect on the local adult population were removed to keep the narrative tightly focused on the children.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a book, but it shares thematic similarities with war literature that focuses on children’s experiences—works such as Empire of the Sun or Beasts of No Nation. The difference lies in its brutal realism and total absence of sentimentality.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The minefield scene where children casually collect unexploded mines with a horrifying level of expertise.
• The scene where Agrin, emotionally detached, stares at the blind child while others play.
• Hengov’s prophecy about the war, followed by the children watching U.S. tanks enter the village.
• Agrin’s suicide—an emotionally devastating moment.
• Satellite walking away injured and alone, symbolic of lost hope.

Iconic Quotes

• “Do you know what’s beyond those mountains? There’s no satellite dish that can see it.”
• “You want CNN? I’ll give you CNN, BBC, whatever you want—just bring the dish.”
• “They say Americans are coming. Will they bring peace? Or more bombs?”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The film’s title is a metaphor: turtles (slow, grounded, vulnerable) “flying” suggests the impossible dreams of children in wartime.
• The use of red in specific scenes highlights trauma—Agrin often wears red or is surrounded by it when key emotional beats occur.
• The blind boy often hums softly, a Kurdish lullaby, adding a layer of cultural intimacy.
• Many of the children wear clothing with Western brand names, symbolizing the distant promise of a better world.

Trivia

• First Iraqi film to be released after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
• The first Kurdish film ever submitted for the Academy Awards.
• The satellite dish setup scenes were filmed using real, working equipment.
• Satellite’s character was based on a real boy Ghobadi met in a camp.
• The actor who played Hengov lost both arms in a landmine explosion in real life.

Why Watch?

Turtles Can Fly is a raw, beautiful, and harrowing film that offers a rare window into the lives of war-affected children. It’s essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand the human cost of conflict—especially on those too young to process or escape it. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it’s unforgettable, eye-opening, and deeply human.

Director’s Other Movies

• A Time for Drunken Horses (2000)
• Marooned in Iraq (2002)
• Half Moon (2006)
• No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009)
• Rhino Season (2012)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
• Beasts of No Nation (2015)
• The Kite Runner (2007)
• Empire of the Sun (1987)
• The White Balloon (1995)
• Osama (2003)