Time for Drunken Horses

A Time For Drunken Horses

The film A Time for Drunken Horses, is an Iranian film that takes place during the period of the Iran-Iraq war. This film depicts the struggles that a parentless family of young Kurdish siblings must face in a time of adversity and financial burden. Ayoub, the eldest brother of the family, must fend for and work hard to provide money for his brothers and sisters. One of Ayoub’s brothers, Madi, is handicapped and extremely ill and requires constant medical attention. However, it is learned early on in the film that if Madi does not receive surgery soon that he will die. Lacking enough money to pay off for Madi’s surgery, Ayoub desperately works very hard smuggling goods and fending off between the Iran-Iraq border with drunken mules (as to fight off the cold for the necessary animals) in order to save up some money. The affection and devotion Ayoub provides for his family is truly heartwarming. Ayoub provides money for one of his sister’s education and even spends money on buying Madi a poster as a present. The viewer is truly touched by Ayoub’s fatherly and devoted demeanor throughout the entire film. Despite his hard work, however, Ayoub still has difficulty saving up enough money for Madi’s surgery. In consequence, the children’s uncle at one point decides to take matters into his own hands and gives one of the young sister’s hands off in marriage. The young sister agrees hoping that his ill brother Madi will be provided medical attention if she were to accept the marriage. Unfortunately, the groom’s family does not accept Madi and instead offers a mule as a form of compensation. The film ends with Madi and Ayoub going fighting through the cold winter weather between the Iran-Iraq border, attempting to smuggle goods with mules that are so drunk that they can barely walk. The ending is bittersweet as Ayoub pushes through the freezing cold with ambushers in the way, telling Madi how much he loves him in hopes of saving his brothers life.