FILM SYNOPSIS:
Ali’s grandmother addresses her dead son, Ahmed, in an ancient Sumerain style lament. Telling him how his 9-year-old son Ali, became mute after Ahmed was killed in battle. Watching Ali play with his sheep and having already lost her son, she worries for her grandson’s well being. This becomes her painful narrative of the film.
Ali knows that his sheep, Kirmeta, is destined for sacrifice soon. He convinces his grandmother to accompany Hassan, his 17-year-old brother, on the journey of sacrifice.
Blessed by the grandmother's prayers, they embark on this perilous 400 km march. The sheep becomes increasingly resistant to continue the journey and tries to escape the bloody fate that awaits him.
Hassan is forced to carry the sheep and soon becomes exhausted. He tries to slaughter Kirmeta before they reach their final destination, but a cleric reminds them that it is forbidden to kill an ill sheep. Frustrated with Kirmeta pissing on him, Hassan walks off, leaving Ali alone with his sheep.
When Kirmeta runs away, Ali eventually finds him amongst carcasses of cars leftover from years of violence and false promises of freedom. Kirmeta collapses from exhaustion and people think he is dead. But with the continuous prayers of grandmother, Kirmeta mysteriously recovers. Witnessing this the pilgrims declare him a MIRACLE SHEEP, a reputation that accompanies them on the rest of their journey. Can both boy and sheep survive the hardship and accept their fate?
A lyrical hybrid film whose symbolism exposes the suffering of a nation whose only hope left is a mute child and his “miraculous” sheep.
PRESS / QUOTES:
“THE JURY WAS BEWITCHED AND MOVED IN EQUAL MEASURE BY MAYTHEM RIDHA’S INTENSELY CINEMATIC AND LYRICAL FILM, WHICH HAS THE QUALITY OF AN INTIMATE EPIC IN SPITE OF ITS SHORT LENGTH. STRIKINGLY CONFIDENT IN BOTH ITS EMBRACE OF FORMAL HYBRIDITY AND TONAL AMBIGUITY, THE FILM SHIFTS DELICATELY FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT IN A FLOW OF IMAGERY THAT IS AT ONCE BEAUTIFUL, ABSURD AND UTTERLY HEARTBREAKING. ALI AND HIS MIRACLE SHEEP MADE US CONSIDER THE VERY MEANING OF "BRITISH CINEMA", WHEN THE FATES AND LIVED REALITIES OF INDIVIDUAL NATIONS ARE SO INEXTRICABLY BOUND UP WITH THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS.” - Jury report on Best Film Award at Sheffield Doc Fest UK Competition.
"ALI AND HIS MIRACLE SHEEP, MIXES FACT AND FICTION TO TELL THE STORY OF NINE-YEAR-OLD ALI AND HIS DECISION TO TAKES HIS SHEEP, KIRMETA, FOR SACRIFICE ON A STRENUOUS 400KM JOURNEY ACROSS IRAQ’S WAR-RUINED LANDSCAPES TO THE SHRINE OF AN ANCIENT SAINT... WHAT HAPPENS TO KIRMETA IS DECLARED A MIRACLE. HOWEVER, WHAT FEELS THE MOST MIRACULOUS IN THIS FILM IS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SURVIVED SUCH UNIMAGINABLE LOSS". - Review of Ali and His Miracle Sheep by 500 days of films.
“A STARK REMINDER THAT THIS FILM ISN’T JUST ABOUT GETTING A TIRED SHEEP FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER BUT THE COLLECTIVE MOURNING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE FOR THOSE LOVED ONES LOST OR PERHAPS TAKEN IS THE BETTER WORD. THEIR GRIEF AND LAMENTING, COMBINED WITH THE FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE PILGRIMAGE IS SO ENTIRELY ALIEN TO ANYTHING I HAVE EVER BEEN A PART OF, THAT WHEN A MOMENT OF WRY HUMOUR APPEARS IT THROWS THE REST OF THE WORK INTO STARK RELIEF.” - Mydylarama - Pick of Sheffield Doc Fest - Ali And His Miracle Sheep by Anna Dawson-Hart.
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
Since its World Premiere in June 2021, where it won the best film award at Sheffield Doc Fest UK competition, Ali and His Miracle Sheep has been selected by over 30 major international festivals, winning several awards and prizes. Here is a small selection:
CREDITS:
Writer & Director: Maythem Ridha, Cast: Muslim Turkey, Muhammad Saad, Sabriya Muhi, Zahra Ali Sadek Hussein, Kirmeta the Sheep, Producer: Maythem Ridha, Co-Producer: Mostafa Nagy, Cinematographer: Duraid Al Munajim, Editor: Zainab Al-Hariri, Finishing & Online Editor: David Potter, Associate Producer: Zainab Al-Hariri, Sound Design: Kim Tae Hak, Colour: Carl Thompson, Graphics: Ibrahim Ahmed.
Writer & Director: Maythem Ridha, Cast: Muslim Turkey, Muhammad Saad, Sabriya Muhi, Zahra Ali Sadek Hussein, Kirmeta the Sheep, Producer: Maythem Ridha, Co-Producer: Mostafa Nagy, Cinematographer: Duraid Al Munajim, Editor: Zainab Al-Hariri, Finishing & Online Editor: David Potter, Associate Producer: Zainab Al-Hariri, Sound Design: Kim Tae Hak, Colour: Carl Thompson, Graphics: Ibrahim Ahmed.
