My Father's Rifle: A Childhood in KurdistanA young Kurd comes of age in a war-torn land. This beautiful, spare narrative tells of the life of a boy named Azad--in fact the author, a Kurdish filmmaker--as he grows to manhood in Iraq during the 1960s and 1970s. Azad is born into a vibrant village culture, to a family that is proud of its Kurdish past and hopes for a free Kurdish future. He loves his mother's orchard, his cousin's stunt pigeons, his father's old Czech rifle, his brother who is fighting in the mountains. But before he is even of school age, Azad has experienced strafing and bombing; he watches as friends and neighbors are assassinated; and he sees his father humiliated when he tries to get food for his starving family. Forced into a refugee camp in Iran for years, his family realizes, on their return, that Saddam Hussein and his regime are destroying the autonomy he had promised their people. In a burst of adolescent impatience, Azad briefly runs off to the mountains to fight for Kurdish liberty, like his brother. But Azad has also discovered art--drawings, poetry, film--and he senses that he must find his own way to advance the Kurdish cause. My Father's Rifle ends with his heartbreaking departure from his parents and flight across the Syrian border to freedom. Stunning in its unadorned intensity, My Father's Rifle is a moving portrait of a boy who embraces the land and culture he loves, even as he leaves them. |
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Aqra Arab arms arrived asked Baath Party Baathist Baghdad Barzani beautiful became become began bottles Brno brother bullets called cave climbed continued cousin didn't door drink everything eyes face father fell felt fighters fired fish followed friends front gave give greeted ground hands head heard hill Iraq Iraqi Jian killed knew Kurdish Kurdistan Kurds later leader leave listened live longer looked mother mountains never night opened orchard ordered painting Party passed person president radio Rajab Ramo returned river Saddam saying showed side sister smiled soldiers soon standing started station stopped talk teacher tell thought told took town tree turned uncle village Voice waiting walked wall wanted watched weapon women young