What Happens in Notturno?
The complete story of Notturno, from the first scene to the last, in 244 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Filmed over three years across Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan, and Lebanon, Notturno offers a poignant look at individuals living on the fringes of war zones in the Middle East as they attempt to reclaim their daily lives.
The narrative unfolds through a series of stark vignettes:
- A group of female soldiers is seen balancing the tension of clearing empty buildings with quiet moments of relaxation in their barracks.
- In the stillness of the night, a man hunts waterfowl from a small boat, while the distant echo of machine gun fire serves as a constant reminder of the surrounding conflict. He is assisted by a young boy named Ali, who earns five dollars a day for his help.
- At a psychiatric hospital, patients engage in a unique form of therapy, memorizing and rehearsing scripts for a play that reflects the current state of their homeland.
- In a town, a man shares a quiet moment admiring the night sky with his partner before donning his thob and walking the streets, singing songs in praise of the prophet.
The film also explores the deep psychological scars of war. Schoolchildren are shown drawing graphic images of the atrocities they witnessed as a way to process their trauma. The emotional weight peaks with a veiled Kurdish mother visiting the very jail cell where her son was tortured and killed, and another mother listening to heartbreaking phone messages from her daughter, who has been kidnapped by ISIS terrorists demanding a ransom.
Notturno Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Life Near the War Zones” to “Messages from a Captive Daughter”. 11 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Life Near the War Zones
Shot over three years across Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan, and Lebanon, the film follows people living near the Middle East's conflict zones. Each of their stories captures the struggle to start over and maintain everyday life in the shadow of war.
Where:Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan, and Lebanon
- 2
Female Soldiers Stand Guard
A group of female soldiers stands watch in an area close to active war zones. Their vigil reflects the constant state of alert that shapes daily life for those living along the front lines of conflict.
- 3
Clearing Empty Buildings
The soldiers move through abandoned structures, clearing them as part of their duties. The empty buildings stand as silent reminders of the civilians who fled the surrounding violence.
Where:Empty buildings in the war zone
- 4
Downtime in the Barracks
Between their duties, the female soldiers are shown relaxing together in their barracks. These quiet moments of rest reveal their attempts to hold onto a sense of normalcy despite the war unfolding around them.
Where:Barracks
- 5
Hunting Water Fowl at Night
A man drifts in a small boat, hunting for water fowl under the cover of darkness. The sound of machine gun fire echoes in the distance, a constant reminder that the war is never far away.
When:Night Where:Small boat on the water
- 6
Ali Helps the Duck Hunter
A young boy named Ali works alongside the duck hunter, helping him with his daily labor on the water. For his work, he is paid five dollars a day, a modest income earned in the shadow of conflict.
Where:Hunting grounds
- 7
Admiring the Night Sky
A couple stands together, admiring the beauty of the night sky above their homeland. The peaceful moment offers a brief escape from the harsh realities of life near a war zone.
When:Night
- 8
Singing Praise in the Streets
After taking in the night sky, the man puts on his thob, picks up his drum, and walks the streets of the town. As he plays the instrument, he sings a song in praise of the prophet, sharing his devotion with the community around him.
When:Night Where:Streets of the town
- 9
Scripts at the Psychiatric Hospital
In a psychiatric hospital, a group of patients is given scripts to memorize for a play about the current state of their homeland. The theatrical project becomes a way for them to process and express what they have endured.
Where:Psychiatric hospital
- 10
Rehearsing the Play
The patients gather to rehearse their parts, reciting lines about the condition of their homeland. Through performance, they confront the trauma they have lived through and give voice to their struggles.
Where:Psychiatric hospital
Show the other 4 events of Notturno Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Drawing the Horrors of War
At a school, children draw graphic pictures of the war atrocities they have witnessed as a form of therapy. Their illustrations reveal the brutal violence that these young minds have directly experienced.
Where:School
- 12
Voicing Their Experiences
The children describe their traumatic experiences to their teacher, recounting the scenes they have put on paper. This therapeutic exercise helps them process memories of violence that no child should have to witness.
Where:School
- 13
A Mother in Her Son's Cell
A veiled Kurdish mother stands inside the jail cell where her son was tortured and killed. In one of the film's most cruel and haunting scenes, she confronts the very place where her child lost his life.
Where:Jail cell
- 14
Messages from a Captive Daughter
A mother listens to phone messages left by her daughter, who has been kidnapped by ISIS terrorists. The captors demand a ransom, leaving the mother to grapple with fear and desperation as she clings to her daughter's voice.
Quiz
How well do you remember Notturno? Test yourself on the story.
