Name: Baad, dah saleh
Genre: Short
Duration: 23 min
Rating: 6.7
Cast: Mehdi Moghaddam, Shaaf Noori, Marzieh Vafamehr

This is short film from Iran about the incredibly bloody Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988. The story is told from the viewpoint of one little Iranian girl and how the war impacted on her. First, you see that there is a little shrine in her home for a dead brother who was lost in the war. Next, when she goes to school, all the school day revolves around the war and those responsible. Oddly, Iraq wasn't mentioned, though when the kids were readying for a skit, the "usual suspects" (Israel, US and UK) were among those who were responsible for the war. In fact, education in any real sense didn't seem important in the school, as indoctrination into "correct thinking" and rooting out "enemies within" seemed to be just about all they were concerned with in BAAD, DAH SALEH.

I wish I knew more about this film and those who made it--in particular, did they intend this as an indictment about the indoctrination of children and a loss of innocence? I really don't know, as many Iranian families sent their 10-12 year-olds to run through Iraqi mine fields in this war. Perhaps this isn't seen as a loss of innocence for the little girl but instead is praising her for her commitment to her country and the Islamic Revolution. I sure hope not, as kids all too often aren't allowed to be kids in this world.

This is a well-constructed film--interesting and worth a look. If anyone knows more about this film and its intended message, drop me a line.

Persian-language (primarily Iranian) cinema is acclaimed for poetic allegory, moral depth, and inventive ways of navigating censorship. It often uses non-professional actors, minimalism and symbolism to explore moral dilemmas, social issues, and the human condition under political constraints.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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A day in the life of a 10-year-old Iranian girl highlights the Iran-Iraq war and the national/educational propaganda that informs the tumult, fear, infatuation, and mindset of a generation.

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Baad, dah saleh

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