Searching for family - the uncertainties of a documentary.

I saw the original short, which was very powerful. So this extended story appears weaker by contrast. The short story was just about the 2 former soldiers on opposite sides of the Iran-Iraq war meeting many years later. 

The 2 war veterans now try to find / reunite with their families back in the middle east, with parts of the short pasted in to provide the back story. But this is an ongoing documentary film, not one based on known success, like Lion. Each man has his challenges. The Iranian has legal problems getting home. The Iraqi never formally married his wife, so his son is technically fatherless, and his biological family didn't even know of this relationship. In each case, they got something, but not everything they wanted, out of their quest.

The movie shows the good and bad sides of family relationships, and the bad after-effects of war.

Arabic-language cinema spans many regions, with Egypt pioneering popular musicals and melodramas, while Lebanon, Palestine, and North Africa use film as a medium for political expression and memory. Collectively, it expresses Arab identity onscreen and has influenced storytelling across the Middle East.

Ahmed Marei and Shafik Nour El Din in The Mummy (1969)

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

The history genre features recounting and analyzing past events, societies, cultures, and historical figures. This genre aims to provide insights into the development of civilizations, the causes and consequences of historical events, and the impact of individuals and ideas on the course of history.

The war genre features armed conflicts, both historical and fictional, and the experiences of individuals and groups involved in warfare. This genre explores the physical, emotional, and moral challenges faced by soldiers, civilians, and others affected by war.

The true story of 2 enemies from the Iran-Iraq war; one saves the other's life on the battlefield, then they meet again by sheer coincidence 20 years later in Canada. Inspired by their miraculous reunion, Najah and Zahed face down their fears and post-traumatic stress and head back to Iraq and Iran to search for missing loved ones. Their journey takes them into the heart of present-day conflicts in a region ravaged by war and ISIS. Their journey is a surprising affirmation of humanity and redemption. (This feature length film is DIFFERENT from the short film of the same title, which was nominated for an Emmy and shortlisted for an Oscar)

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