A Time for Drunken Horses

The film follows a young Kurdish boy who becomes the head of his family after their father dies, taking on dangerous smuggling runs across the Iran-Iraq border. He does this to pay for an expensive operation for his severely disabled older brother. The title refers to the practice of feeding alcohol to smugglers' horses to keep them warm in the freezing winter mountains.

The film is notable for starring entirely non-professional Kurdish actors from the border region, lending it a deeply authentic and documentary-like feel. The lead role of Ayoub is played by a real-life local boy named Ayoub Ahmadi. Their raw performances ground the harrowing war drama in stark reality.

Yes, the film garnered immense critical acclaim and won the prestigious Caméra d'Or award at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. This award is specifically given to the best first feature film presented in any selection. Director Bahman Ghobadi was recognized for his poignant and authentic portrayal of Kurdish life.

Bahman Ghobadi is a prominent Iranian-Kurdish director known for acclaimed films like Turtles Can Fly and No One Knows About Persian Cats. A Time for Drunken Horses was his feature-length directorial debut. His filmography consistently focuses on the struggles of the Kurdish people in the Middle East.