“There is no heaven for a man killed by a woman.” A Kurdish film represents Iraq at the Oscars

Kurdish-Norwegian director Hilkut Mustafa’s film “Ain’t No Heaven If A Woman Kills You” officially represented Iraq in the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

The film was nominated by the Iraqi National Committee, which was formed by the Ministry of Culture – Film and Theater Department. In its statement, the committee explained that the film attracted attention for its artistic level and combination of cinematic vision, especially in terms of direction, imagery and technical elements, besides its specificity in dealing with the human dimensions of the local story.

He noted that the decision to select No Heaven for a Woman Murderer was based on the competition conditions and their artistic study, and the committee members unanimously chose the film because it is a work that has elements that allow it to appeal to audiences outside of its local context.

The committee added that the treatment provided by the film combines the specifics of the environment and the Iraqi narrative with wider human dimensions, and the quality of the visual and technical implementation and the directorial vision will increase its chances of competition in the international competition for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Celebrating the resilience of Kurdish women

The film revolves around the character of Kurdish sniper Viyan, who belongs to the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and who survives the war until he learns that his younger sister is still alive after she survived an ISIS attack in 2014 and is currently living in Mosul.

After years away from the atmosphere of war, Vian decides to return to Mosul in search of his sister and save her, a journey that will bring back the fear and memories he has tried to bury all these years.

Director Halkut Mustafa said the idea for the film began with the stories of Kurdish women who decided to confront ISIS, explaining in press statements outside the Venice Film Festival that he met several of them when they were on the front lines in 2014.

She added that what she saw during the period of fear and instability, apart from their insistence on continuing to fight and refusing to give up, prompted her to present a story about women who face threats and defend their right to freedom and dignity.

She explained that the experiences of these women reminded her of the long history of Kurdish women’s struggle, and so she wanted to make the film a celebration of their resilience.

From Kurdistan to Mosul.. Mustafa’s experience

The director noted that his connection to the story goes beyond the artistic aspect, especially since he was born in Iraqi Kurdistan and was smuggled to Norway as a child, giving him a first-hand understanding of the meaning of losing his homeland.

The film was shot on location in the Iraqi city of Mosul, with the crew relying heavily on the city and its surroundings to maintain the realism of the events and present them in their original locations. The film stars Awan Jamal, Thorbjorn Haar, Kanar Sarsheli and Kader Jalal.

The film’s nomination for Iraq’s Best International Feature Film at the Oscars coincides with its world premiere during the activities of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it participates outside the official competition from September 2 to 12.

Halkut Mustafa has previously produced cinematic works on women fighters in Kurdistan, including the documentary “The Women ISIS Fears” in 2015, which was about the experiences of a female Kurdish fighter.

In 2023, he also directed the documentary Hiding Saddam Hussein, based on the story of a farmer who hid former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for 235 days in 2003, in addition to the film Classic, which represented Iraq in the Oscar race in 2016.