The film sheds light on the direct and indirect role of the British government in the mass-killing of nearly half of the Iranian population during the First World War.
During the war, Iran was struck by a drought in the years 1917-1919 after Russian and British forces occupied Iran, dividing it to two regions of influence and a central buffer zone, and mercilessly looting people’s staple food.
The invasion of Iran by the British, also called the Persian campaign, was actually an Iranian genocide by bringing famine and poverty to the country. It was a dark and cruel policy implemented on innocent civilians. As written in ‘The Great Famine of 1917-1919,’ by Mohamad Gholi Majd “the great famine of 1917-1919 is one which the outbreak of World War I and the occupation of Iran, and most important of all, Britain’s policies during occupation resulted in an unbelievable and great calamity with advent of World War I. Britain, Russia, and Ottoman empire violated Iran’s neutrality and occupied Iran. After the defeat of Ottomans and the outbreak of Bolshevik revolution in Russia, and consequently withdrawal of their forces from Iran, Britain could occupy the whole Iran and a vast part of the Middle East.”
Having won the award for the best work by the panel of judges of the 14th Resistance Film Festival, ‘Iran Orphanage’ is now being screened after a relatively long period from its shooting. Besides, Aliram Nouraei, the film’s protagonist, has won the festival’s award for Best Actor for his role in the movie.
Abolghasem Talebi was born in 1961 in the central city of Isfahan. He is a graduate in judicial law and began his professional carrier in 1992 as assistant director of ‘On the Wings of Angels’ by Javad Shamaghdari.
He has also directed other films; ‘Mr. President,’ ‘The Song,’ ‘The Childish War,’ ‘The Afghan Bride,’ ‘The Empty Hands, and ‘The Gold Leashes’ which was another anti-UK film. Moreover, ‘The Retuning Swallows’ and ‘Where to So Fast!’ are two of the series he has directed.
SH/PR