A Time for Drunken Horses 2000

A Kurdish family faces the harrowing challenge of survival after the tragic loss of their parents. Ayoub, the eldest son, bravely steps up to become the head of the household, taking on whatever work he can find to provide for his family. His brother, Madi, is facing a critical situation that requires surgery due to his handicap. In a desperate bid to secure the funds for Madi’s operation, Ayoub resorts to smuggling truck tires alongside a group of Kurdish villagers along the treacherous Iran-Iraq border.

Despite his relentless efforts, Ayoub falls short of raising the necessary money. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, his uncle makes the difficult decision to marry off their sister to ensure Madi can receive the surgery, arranging for the groom’s family to cover the costs on the Iraqi side of the border. Upon their arrival, however, the groom’s mother cruelly refuses to accept Madi, offering only a mule as compensation instead.

Determined to provide for his brother’s needs, Ayoub resolves to take the mule to Iraq, where its value is significantly greater, in hopes of selling it to fund Madi’s surgery. Along the way, he partners with some smugglers who also rely on mules for transporting goods. These smugglers, in a bid to endure the brutal winter conditions of the mountains, feed their animals whisky to keep them going.

As fate would have it, their journey takes a perilous turn when they are ambushed en route to the border. The drunken mules struggle to carry on, leaving Ayoub in a tense and dangerous situation. With courage and quick thinking, Ayoub manages a narrow escape. The story culminates in a poignant moment as Ayoub and Madi are seen crossing the border, signifying the hope for a better future despite the trials they have faced.