
In war-torn Kurdistan, a family struggles to survive as their youngest fights for his life and requires a critical operation. Facing impossible circumstances, the siblings make a difficult decision: to arrange a marriage for their eldest sister to an Iraqi man who can provide care for the boy. However, their rejection at the border leads to a desperate and perilous race against time as they journey to secure his future.
Does A Time for Drunken Horses have end credit scenes?
No!
A Time for Drunken Horses does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Explore the complete cast of A Time for Drunken Horses, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.
No actors found
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78
Metascore
7.7
User Score
86%
TOMATOMETER
86%
User Score
76
%
User Score
Challenge your knowledge of A Time for Drunken Horses with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.
Who is the eldest sibling responsible for the family's survival?
Ayoub
Madi
The Uncle
The Sister
Show hint
Discover all the awards and nominations received by A Time for Drunken Horses, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how A Time for Drunken Horses and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.
16th Film Independent Spirit Awards 2001
Best International Film
Read the complete plot summary of A Time for Drunken Horses, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.
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.
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