Landless

Director Mohammad Sadegh ESMAEILI | Producer Elaheh NOBAKHT | Iran | 70min | 4K | Color

Project Description

Budget

Logline

Jamileh, an illegal Afghan immigrant living in Iran, along with her mother and younger siblings, tries to prevent her father’s death sentence who was charged with trafficking drugs.

Synopsis

Landless follows an Afghan immigrant family forced to flee after the Taliban's rise to power. Abdollah, the father, is imprisoned in Iran for drug trafficking and sentenced to death. His children, Jamileh and Esmatollah, work tirelessly to pay for his legal fees. Their mother, Maryam, considers marrying off Jamileh for financial aid. The family communicates with Abdollah only through rare phone calls. As Abdollah's execution looms, they face insurmountable challenges. The documentary explores themes of loss, forced labor, and premature adulthood, capturing the family's relentless struggle for freedom and the harsh realities of illegal immigration.

Director's Statement

Landless is a poignant exploration of the relentless struggles faced by an Afghan immigrant family. Through the lens of Jamileh and Esmatollah, we witness their determination to free their father, Abdollah, from a death sentence in Iran. This documentary delves into harrowing themes of loss, child labor, and forced migration, highlighting the impact of geopolitical turmoil on innocent lives. My intent is to provide an unfiltered, observational view of their reality, capturing their resilience and the heart-wrenching sacrifices they endure. Landless is a testament to the indomitable human spirit amidst unimaginable adversity.

	The director of the documentary, Mohammad Sadegh Esmaeilii, is an Iranian documentarian who has previously made several documentaries on migration, particularly focusing on Afghan migrants. He has received numerous awards from various film festivals.		Elaheh Nobakht is one of the pioneer women in the Iranian cinema. She has produced seven feature films and two short films, such as the feature documentary Dreams’ Gate (2023), Beloved (2018).
Director  Mohammad Sadegh ESMAEILI		Producer  Elaheh NOBAKHT