Peshmerga, headed by French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy has been
added to the Cannes program within the Special Screenings.
The documentary, produced on the front line that separates the Iraqi
Kurdistan by ISIS militias, consists of footage shot during an
offensive launched in July 2015 by the Kurdish Peshmerga against the
terrorists of the Islamic state occupying a large swath of territory
to the south.
The "peshmerga", the Kurdish defense forces are leading the
offensive against terrorists Da'esh with air support from the U.S. and
other allied nations.. Having had to fight for their land throughout
much of the last century, and having suffered a major massacre when
Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against the Kurdish population of
Halabja in 1988, these are a people well familiar with war and its
many repercussions.
Henri-Levy is also familiar with the war: as a journalist and
philosopher has traveled to many difficult places. In numerous
articles, essays and books, has written extensively on contemporary
conflicts in places like Kosovo, Ukraine and Libya.
He traveled more than 1,000 km along the Iraqi border from south to
north, filming the lives of Kurdish fighters.
The film delves briefly into certain aspects of Kurdish history and
culture, including the plight of the Yazidi community and the story of
current President Massoud Barzani, but mostly remains alongside the
fighters (including a few squads of women) as they make their way
across the borderland, passing by cities that have been torn apart by
years of hostilities.
Attending the presentation, General Sirwan Barzani, nephew of
President Massoud, and General Jaafar Mustafa along with other
generals, including some women who lead combat units.
With them also the co-founder of MSF, the surgeon Jacques Bérès
operating in that area, and the Kurdish singer Hally Luv.
