Blue Danube Film Festival to screen Iran-Canada ‘Magralen’

The 3rd edition of the Blue Danube Film Festival has scheduled to screen Iranian-Canadian short ‘Magralen’ in Austria and Hungary.

“An incident disrupts the family's shaky order. Children who are struggling to cope with that incident are trying to find their own way. The elder brother tries to portray the bitter reality in a different way to his sister,” the film’s synopsis reads.

Directed by Iranian filmmaker Maryam Zarei, the short film narrates the story of a family that lives in a car cemetery.

The family’s young daughter, who is blind, has made a car in the automobile graveyard in which they spend their days along with her elder brother.

The junkyard becomes a formula 1 race track for younger sister who is listening to the brother.

While their parents quarrel, gesticulating silently, the brother depicts a colorful happy world in which the sister can grow up without worry.

Even when their mother suddenly abandons the family, the brother playfully maintains his version of hopeful reality.

‘Magralen’ has taken part at some global events, including the 69th Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale) in Germany, the 19th Odense International Film Festival in Denmark, and the 7th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children & Youth in the UAE.

The official selection of the Blue Danube includes 59 films that will be screened in Vienna and Budapest.

The Blue Danube Film Festival is a short film festival, which showcases independent films from all over the world. The festival encourages creativity and experimentation, according to the event’s website.

The 2019 edition of the Blue Danube is slated for November 17-24.

MG/AG