Iraq, 1988… Young husband and father Ako is forced to join Saddam Hussein's army. The unwilling soldier dreams of fleeing the country, but his wife Selma refuses to leave while her old bedridden father is still alive. Ako is sent away to the frontline of the Iran-Iraq War, where he experiences not only the reality of war, but also abuse due to his Kurdish background.
The desperate man considers drastic measures for a fast ticket home. Ako thinks it's his lucky day when he receives orders to escort the return of a fellow soldier's corpse to his family. But his driver turns out to be an anti-Kurd Arab. With flag-wrapped coffin in tow, the mismatched duo prepares for an unexpected voyage across the majestic Iraqi landscape. Ako won't miss his chance to trick the driver into heading north toward the Kurdistan region...

France-Kurdistan / 2005 / 96'
In colour / 35 mm / 1.85 / Dolby SRD
Visa n° 112.666

CAST
Ako__ Nazmî KIRIK
The Driver__ Eyam EKREM
Selma__ Belcim BILGIN
Sami__ Ehmed QELADIZEYI
Adnan__ Nezar SELAMI

Writer & Director: Hiner SALEEM
Director of Photography: Robert ALAZRAKI, A.F.C.
Set Designer: Fakher SHERWANI
Sound Designer: Frédi LOTH
Editor: Anna RUIZ
Composers: Nikos KIPOURGOS - Yan AXIN
Producers: Alexandre MALLET-GUY, Hiner SALEEM, Émilie GEORGES
Production: MEMENTO FILMS PRODUCTION (France)
HINER SALEEM PRODUCTION (Kurdistan)
LA CINEFACTURE (France)
Associate Producer: Fabrice GUEZ
With the support of REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF KURDISH IRAQ
With the participation of FONDS SUD CINEMA, MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION, CNC, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (France), TV5 WORLD, YLE (Finland), KURDISTAN TV
International Sales: MEMENTO FILMS INTERNATIONAL
French Distribution: MEMENTO FILMS DISTRIBUTION
French Release: 28 SEPTEMBER 2005