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For a Moment, Freedom

For a Moment, Freedom

(Ein Augenblick Freiheit), Arash T. Riahi / A-F-TR, 2008
Persian, Turkish, English / Czech subtitles, 110 min

Two young Iranian men, Ali and Merdad, have promised to escort their young cousins, seven-year-old Asy and five-year-old Arman, from Iran to Austria where their parents are waiting for them. While the refugees wait in the Turkish city of Ankara for Austrian visas, they share the fate of other illegal immigrants. These include a family fleeing from political persecution, an Iranian teacher, and a young Kurd who retains his sense of humor even at the toughest of moments. “I wanted to make a universal film about people trying to find a better life elsewhere, either for political or for humanistic reasons,” remarks debuting director Arash T. Riahi, who employed autobiographical themes in his film. At age nine, he and his parents emigrated from Iran to Austria. The other elements of this tragicomic movie were also inspired by true events experienced by the director’s fellow countrymen during their search for a better life in Europe.