Exodus

Showings

TIFF Lightbox 4 Fri, Apr 26, 2019 3:00 PM
Innis Town Hall Sat, Apr 27, 2019 3:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre 3 Sun, May 5, 2019 3:45 PM
Film Info
Runtime:77
Copyright:2019
Country Listing:Iran
Premiere Status:International Premiere
Rating:PG
Festival Info
Festival Year:2019
Language:Persian
Accessibility:Full Subtitles
Program Category:International Spectrum
Film Subjects:Immigration, Multiculturalism & Refugees
Politics & Political Intrigue
South & Central Asia
Middle East
Website:http://www.defc.ir
Cast/Crew Info
Director(s):Bahman Kiarostami
Producer(s):Bahman Kiarostami
Editor(s):Bahman Kiarostami
Writer(s):Bahman Kiarostami
Cinematography:Davoud Maleki
Sound:Amirhossein Ghassemi

Description

Since Iran opened its borders to refugees of the Soviet–Afghan War in 1979, it has become home to as many as 2.5 million Afghans, half of whom are undocumented. When renewed US sanctions in 2018 caused a currency collapse in Iran, the vulnerable population of migrants—often working as low-paid labourers in harsh conditions—was severely affected by the recession. Now, large numbers of them want to return home. Bahman Kiarostami (the son of late acclaimed director Abbas Kiarostami) sets up his camera in a Tehran-based facility processing thousands of illegals leaving the country. The migrants are asked surprising personal questions about everything from religion to drugs to family issues. With a Wiseman-esque fly-on-the-wall observation of these surprising interrogation sessions, Kiarostami paints a kaleidoscopic, empathetic and often humorous picture of the Afghans' place in Iranian society and their reasons for leaving it. Charlotte Selb