Serbian Ethnological fest to host Iranian ‘Balora’

The 30th International Festival of Ethnological Film in Serbia has been scheduled to screen Iranian short documentary ‘Balora’.

Produced, directed, and edited by Abdolqader Khaledi, the doc is about Balora, an old song that used to be performed by ethnic Iranians, especially the Kurd people.

In times when there were no means of mass communication, this song was also used to communicate with other people in the mountains.

Balora has had aspects of romance, satire and humor, as well as a description of the death of a hero, the extent of which depends on the taste, imagination and skill of the poet, since there is a strong element of improvisation.

Performing it requires special skills because it requires the coordination of the fingers and proper breathing while singing.

Through the song, Kord women have cried out their desires, aspirations and sufferings not in a quiet and secret voice but in a loud and free voice in the mountains. The film reflects some of the cries.

‘Balora’ is currently in competition at the Apricot Tree Ujan International Documentary Film Festival in Armenia.

Established in 1992, the International Festival of Ethnological Film presents films that center on the traditional and modern lifestyle of humans.

Based on the festival’s website “Its mission is to foster research and creative approaches to ethnographic documentaries, to educate public on diverse local cultural traditions, as well as to raise voice addressing problems of the modern society, which often neglects the values of cultural heritage”.

The 2021 edition of the event will be held on October 4-8.

MG/AG