Damascus Time (Persian: به وقت شام) is a 2018 drama film by Iranian director Ebrahim Hatamikia.[2][3][4] The plot revolves around an Iranian pilot and his copilot son whose plane is seized by ISIS forces in Syria while carrying a cargo of humanitarian relief supplies to people in a war zone.[5] Hadi Hejazifar, Babak Hamidian and an ensemble of Syrian, Iraqi and Lebanese actors star in the film.[6][7]

Damascus Time
English poster of Damascus Time
Directed byEbrahim Hatamikia
Written byEbrahim Hatamikia
Produced byMohammad Khazai[1]
Starring
CinematographyMehdi Jafari
Edited byMehrdad Khoshbakht
Music byKaren Homayounfar
Production
company
Distributed byFilmiran (Iran)
Release date
  • February 1, 2018 (2018-02-01) (FIFF)
Running time
109 min
CountryIran
Languages
  • Persian
  • Arabic
  • English
  • Russian

Synopsis

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Ali and his son, Younes, play pilots trying to rescue civilians besieged and attacked by ISIS forces in eastern Syria. The pilots have come to help the townspeople escape in an aging Ilyushin cargo plane.

Cast

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Release

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The movie seeks to shed light on the reality of Daesh and what the Western media is trying to hide from the world about them. Hatamikia, Homayunfar and Joseph Salameh, the Lebanese actor who stars as Abu Omar al-Shishani in the film, attended the ceremony organized at the Kurosh Cineplex.

Awards

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At the 2018 Fajr International Film Festival, Ebrahim Hatamikia was co-awarded the Crystal Simorgh for best director.[8] Mohammad-Ali Jafari, IRGC Chief-Commander, congratulated Hatamikia on receiving the Award.[9] The movie won two other awards for Best Composer and Best Sound Effects, and holds the record of being nominated in eight categories.[10]

Reception

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Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs,[11][12] and Iran's Quds force commander, Qasem Soleimani described the movie as a "masterpiece."

Lead actor Hadi Hejazifar said that he was not satisfied with his performance in the movie.[5] According to reports, the film is planned to premiere South Korea, Japan, Iraq, and Lebanon.

References

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  1. ^ Faierman, Leonardo (9 February 2018). "Drama About Daesh Looking For Worldwide Distribution". The Iranian. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Iran's Syria war blockbuster: cinema in the service of politics". The Christian Science Monitor. 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  3. ^ Golshiri, Ghazal (30 April 2018). "Un blockbuster iranien au service de la République islamique". Le Monde (in French). Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Zarif impressed with "At Damascus Time"". Tehran Times. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b ""At Damascus Time" star Hejazifar dissatisfied with his performance". Iranian News Daily. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  6. ^ "'Damascus Time' fills Zarif's eyes with tears". Mehr News Agency. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Googoosh". mehrnews. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  8. ^ ""Lost Strait" scores big success at Fajr filmfest". Tehran Times. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  9. ^ "IRGC Chief Praises Film about Fight against ISIS". IFP News. 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  10. ^ "'Damascus Time' set for Syria screening". www.iran-daily.com. Retrieved 17 April 2019.[dead link]
  11. ^ "'At Damascus Time' Praised By Foreign Minister". kayhan.ir. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Zarif impressed with "At Damascus Time"". Tehran Times. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
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