Merciless

Time moves in circles, and history repeats itself. In the heart of Kurdistan, where dreams often end in tragedy, lies the small city of Halabja. During the Iran-Iraq war, Halabja was conquered by the Iranian army, only to be brutally attacked by Saddam Hussein’s forces on March 16, 1988. The city was bombarded with forbidden chemical weapons, massacring over five thousand civilians. The survivors, including young Araaz and his mother, Daya Halaw, fled to Iran, leaving behind Araaz’s father, who was lost in the chaos. Seeking refuge with Daya’s brother in Kermanshah, Iran, Araaz grew up and completed his studies, eventually being accepted into the university to study political sciences. It was there that he fell in love with Fariba, a fellow student, and made plans to marry her despite initial opposition from her family. However, Araaz’s life took a tumultuous turn when he was expelled from the university and briefly arrested due to political issues. As Araaz and his family navigate the complexities of love, loss, and political turmoil, they embark on a journey of resilience and hope, seeking to rebuild their lives in the face of unimaginable adversity.