Harsh Land and Distant Sky

Directed by Hawraz Mohammed

With Bakhtiyar Panjeei, Diman Zandi, Maryam Boubani, Azhdar Sazgar and Rowal Navgundî

Harun, a Kurdish freedom fighter, is haunted by the memories of war that have left him with post-traumatic stress, and burdened by a profound guilt. In an effort to seek solace, his friend takes him to see a group of Yarsan musicians (an ancient Kurdish religious group), who believe that their sacred Tanbur music can soothe the soul and cure illness. When the music cannot alleviate the burden of war from Harun’s heart, he is guided to Maryam, a traditional Kurdish tattooist who lives in a remote village located in the Triangle of Borders region, where Iran, Iraq, and Turkey cross. When Harun eventually opens up about his past, his memories intertwine with those of the village, and more is subsequently unveiled.