"Turtles Can Fly" is a historically important film about a boy struggling to survive in a dangerous, war ravaged land. This Iraqi/Iranian co-production takes place on Kurdistan, right before and during the United State’s invasion of Iraq.

It’s the first film to be made in Iraq, after the fall of Sadam Hussein. If this film is any indication, not every Iraqi is as delighted with the invasion as the American mainstream media would have us believe.

"Turtles can Fly" is told from a youth’s perspective. The main character is a 13-year-old boy nicknamed Satelite. He is initially very upbeat and passionate, and he tends to scream his dialog out at maximum volume. He is somewhat annoying at times, but he’s mostly endearing. Most of the children are untrained child actors. They may lack acting chops, but they bring a freshness and innocence to their scenes.

In the film’s thrilling climax, a youngster risks his life by trying to save a baby who is surrounded by landmines. The scene generated optimal suspense, and you could hear a pin drop in the theater during the sequence.

The director, Bahman Ghobadi, previously made the well-received "A Time for Drunken Horses" (2000) and "Marooned in Iraq" (2003). In between, he also acted in "Blackboards" (2002). Ghobadi was a student of Abbas Kiarostami ("A Taste of Cherry" and "The Wind Will Carry Us"), who is considered by many to be one of the world’s leading filmmakers.

"Turtles Can Fly" is comparable to the film "Kandahar," which was a little better written. Both films use natural sets and actors, and they both use limbless actors in sympathetic roles. Both of these humanistic films focus on the intense suffering that the wars brought about on ordinary people. But "Turtles Can Fly" lacks the black humor of "Kandahar."

The film is unrated, but because of the war violence it is probably equivalent to an R.

"Turtles Can Fly" cannot be called elegant or focused. It’s messy, uneven, and undisciplined. But in the end I was won over by the potent performances and the power of some of the startling images.