Analysis Of The Film Bashu A Little Stranger - 1881 Words

The movie Bashu: A Little Stranger, is a heartwarming commentary written and directed by Bahram Beizai in 1989 on the effects of war, love, and racism in a small village community in Iran. Beizai challenges the widely accepted Iranian identity through stars Susan Taslimi as Naii, Bashu’s adopted mother and Adnan Afravian as Bashu. The film boasts a simple plot, yet the societal critiques are strong and apparent. It takes place during the Iraq-Iran war, a war brought forth from long standing border conflicts and fears of revolution. Many critics agree that Bashu is a timeless film. Although produced in 1989, this situation could happen at any point in time. The lead character, a ten-year-old boy named Bashu, begins the movie in the Persian†¦show more content†¦Near the beginning of the movie, these visions seem to haunt Bashu. However, as the story continues they become an almost natural presence in the village. Despite the skepticism Bashu and Na’i receive, by the end of the movie he is undoubtedly her son. The themes and symbols in this film are apparent, such as sickness, an eagle, and a mother’s love despite discrimination. As noted, the movie takes place during the The Iran-Iraq War. The war included religious schisms, border disputes, oil dimensions, and extreme political differences. The conflict divided between supporters of Saddam Hussein and Ayatollah Khomeini, both which had extremely devoted followers. On accounts of religion, the Iraqis believed that Irans Islamic agenda was a threat to pan-Arabism. On the other side, Khomeini was promising to vindicate Shia victims of Baathist repression (CITE). Many critics firmly believe that the war began because of Saddam Hussein’s dire miscalculations. He had underestimated how devoted Khomeini’s followers were, and instead of a quick victory, plunged the states into an eight year war. Politically, Iraq wanted to prove its dominance and force to the Arab world, replacing Iran as the most powerful Persian Gulf state. The Iraqis had an extreme advantage, â€Å"the Iraqi military used chemical weapons against Iranian troops† (Tetreault, 158). The Iranians did not