When pandemic stops nomadic pastoralism

New doc ‘Chamon’ is themed on Iran nomads dealing with the Covid-19 virus while maintaining their mobile way of life.  

The doc directed by Arman Qolipour Dashtaki is being screened at the 2020 edition of the Cinema Vérité, Iran’s major international festival for documentary films.

Chamon means epidemic in a dialect of Iranian nomads who move to new pastures with the change of seasons to find fodder and water for their animals.

The nomadic pastoralists in the doc face a great deal of difficulty during the pandemic as they need to move their herds for the greener grass, but the roads are blocked due to a lockdown for the pandemic.

Many of the nomads, when they get informed of the Covid-19 virus, have their doubts about staying for a few weeks due to the devastating animal losses incurred for the lack of food.

The 14th edition of the Cinema Vérité kicked off Tuesday and wraps up on December 22, 2020.

AG/AG