Zaman: The Man from the Reeds

Synopsis: Edited into a beautifully photographed, moving film, even after five reels were confiscated by Saddam Hussein's government, this Iraqi/French collaboration is set just before the outbreak of war in 2003. In the southern region of Iraq where the Tigris river runs through marshland, an old man (Sami Kaftan) lives in a tiny hut thatched from reeds. He has a peaceful, simple life. He loves his wife dearly and in his prayers he is thankful for the life that they have shared together, explaining that as time passes and they experience ups and downs together, their love only grows. When the old man's wife falls sick, he must seek out the medicine to make her better. He paddles his little canoe for two full days to reach Baghdad, then scours every pharmacy in the city to find the prescription. It is harrowing to watch this fatigued character in his quest, braving the busy city and its pollution, crime, and corruption, then passing a lonely night on the steps of a mosque. Meanwhile radio reports echo in the background, hinting at the impending war--that French president Chirac is opposed to the war, as is the Vatican, yet American President Bush has asked congress to approve the funding to go to war. The old man remains sadly focused on his wife and his goal to cure her. He is a good man with a true heart who is both an emblem--and a victim--of the changing times.     Source: RottenTomatoes.com