|
JIYAN is a feature film about a little girl called
Jiyan (Life) who survived the "Kurdish 9/11": the gassing of HALABJA by Saddam's
chemical weapons in which 5,000 innocents were
murdered in less than 5 minutes; where now 10,000 more are suffering from
birth defects, genetic abnormalities and other unidentified, dreadful diseases.
This abominable chemical genocide - the worst known case since Hiroshima -
was master-minded by one of Saddam's chief generals, General Ali Hassan
Majid, nicknamed by his Kurdish victims as "Ali Chemiawee", that is,
"Chemical Ali". He was finally captured by The Coalition Forces
in August 2003 and is due to be tried as a war criminal.
Layla of the fictional film "David
& Layla" lost her family in
HALABJA during that Chemical attack. For photos visit Photo Gallery
after clicking Evini logo
below:
JIYAN (Life)
Director: Jano Rosebiani
Cast: Kurdo Galali, Pisheng Berzinci, Goman Hawrami
Kurdistan 2002 / Kurdish with English subtitles / 99 mins / 12A
Jiyan Reviews
- Jiyan review, Jaap Mees, Talking Pictures, London, UK
- As FLIFF ends, extra Jiyan a fine touch,
John Dolen, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, USA
"Martyred Halabja is at your service,"
says a young boy in this engaging, touching and unaffectedly optimistic serio-comedy
about Diyari (Kurdo Galali), a Kurdish man who comes to Halabja to build a new
orphanage there.
Peter Bradshaw
Friday February 14, 2003
The Guardian
Read the full review: http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,4267,894949,00.html
__________________________________________
Shitty neighbours!
Coping with terrible poverty and neglect, the people get on with their lives
as best they can, trying to preserve their dignity and live as a community. They
curse Saddam, of course, and a little boy asks Diyari: 'Why do we have such
shitty neighbours?'
Philip French
Sunday February 16, 2003
The Observer
Read the full review: http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,4267,896522,00.html
LIFE (JIYAN)
by Jaap Mees, Talking Pictures, London, UK
Jiyan made by self taught Kurdish/American filmmaker Jano Rosebiani, is a magnificent
film. Seeing a film like this in the London Film Festival reminds you why you
want to be in film making in the first place. It has all ingredients that makes
a memorable and fantastic film. Like good and natural acting, exquisite photography
by Koutaiba Al Janabi, who made the maximum out of minimum resources. A story
that matters and needs to be told urgently, and most of all a film with a warm
beating heart.
What is it with those Kurdish films? Two
years ago another fabulous Kurd, Bahman Ghobadi, made the wonderful "A
Time for Drunken Horses" about mountain children smuggling to survive in
very harsh conditions.
Jiyan deals with the aftermath of the evil
actions of Saddam Hussein, who killed 5000 people of Halabja (Kurdistan) in
a chemical and biological attack. More than 9000 inhabitants remained mutilated
for life. Five years later Diyari visits the city in his car and plans to build
an orphanage for the victims. He is very well played by the sympathetic Kurdo
Galali, through whose eyes we see the story develop. This is one of the clever
moves of director Rosebiani, which shows he understands how important it is
to have a lead character who is instantly likeable, so the audience can
identify themselves with him.
He meets a shy and sweet orphan girl Jiyan,
which means life, slowly but gradually an intense and touching friendship develops.
The only person who survived the chemical genocide of her family is her [cousin]
Sherko. Jiyan is my heart and soul, he says several times, she means everything
for him. We meet all different people in Halabja: a woman who falls in love
with Diyari. He denies her in a very gracious letter and explains he is honoured
that she fancied him, but he is happily married with two children. Another magical
character is an old man who refuses to talk [to] anymore, after the killing
of his wife and eight children. He plays the whole day on his flute on the roof
of his house.
Much credit should also go to D.O.P Koutaiba
Al Janabi, who excels in creating sublime images, his shots of the flute
player on the roof at night, the capturing of a sandstorm, his sense of time
and place are unforgettable. Koutaibašs genuine eye for the beauty and
hardship on the faces of the Kurdish people is very impressive indeed. Quite
a revelation to see a cinematographer who takes the time to frame and
light with great care and not pan along rapidly without allowing people to really
see.
Filmmakers and producers should queue
up in signing him for their next projects!
Jiyan is an important, authentic and moving
film. It is intended as the first part of a trilogy on Kurdish life and culture.
Truly inspiring films like Jiyan should be cherished and talented filmmakers
like Jano Rosebiani should be embraced.
Online version: http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ReviewsLifeJiyan.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As FLIFF ends, extra Jiyan a fine touch
-- John Dolen
Arts & Features Editor
Posted November 10 2002
Certain movies are the stuff good film festivals are made of. In Fort Lauderdale's
festival, ending today, I'd count the flawless Take Care of My Cat (Korea),
the provocative documentary War and Peace (India), and Jiyan, which has been
added to today's lineup (at 1:10 p.m.).
Heard of no-fly zones? Of villages where a tyrant used chemical weapons on his
own people? The media buzz phrases are hard to escape even if you're not a news
junkie.
So how about a movie filmed entirely in such villages, a movie that Hollywood
wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole?
Jiyan, which was awarded a special jury prize at Seattle's film fest this year,
was filmed in 28 days in Kurdistan, the part of Iraq under U.S. protection and
previously under immense suffering. Kurdish expatriate Jano Rosebiani had to
smuggle his film out of the region for post-production in Belgium.
The film takes us to the center of the volcano, so to speak, with a film whose
heart and soul are as big and beautiful as the eyes of its brightest star, Pirshang
Berzinji, as the orphan Jiyan, 10.
The story is simple: a Kurdish-American arrives in the impoverished village
of Halabja, which suffered chemical and biological attacks, to help the townspeople
build a new and much-needed orphanage.
If at times artfulness and mild polemics get in the way of the story, these
are far outweighed by the documentary feel, the courage and hope of the Kurds
and the big story that is being told here.
And that's not to mention the whole assortment of delightful characters who
populate this drama, some who'll make you smile, some who'll make you cry, and
all who will make you care.
Online version: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/printedition/search/sfl-kurdfilmnov10.story
.....................................................................
You may forward this newsletter to friends with our blessing.
If you wish your name to be removed, or to add a friend's address to our mailing
list, drop us a note at: jiyan@medyaarts.com
.....................................................................
Evini Films - Kurdistan
Jiyan
- finally a film about Halabja - http://www.medyaarts.com
|
