THE THIRD DAY
Iran, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Mohammed Hussein Latifi.
The Third Day refers to a specific battle in the defence of western Khorramshahr in 1980. This town is on the border between Iraq and Iran. The Iraqis are invading – after a history where Iraqis and Iranians lived in the one town together. The film focuses on a brother and sister. The sister has been proposed to by an Iraqi who taught in the school where she taught – but who carried a bomb into a marketplace, killing many and injuring the girl. The brother decides to hide his sister, burying her in the garden and coming back to rescue her later that evening. In the meantime, the Iraqis go from house to house, the leader being the former teacher. He makes an effort to save the girl but in the final confrontation she shoots him. In the background are the partisans who are trying to defend the town against the strong armaments and tanks of the invading Iraqis.
The film illustrates once again how strongly the Iranians feel about the Iraq- Iran war and demonising the Iraqi characters: the leader, a guard who wants to rape the girl, a picture of Saddam Hussein.
Iranian commentators say that the film, based on fact, is an accurate presentation of the feelings of the resistance of those days. For a 21st century audience, it is reminiscent of the fighting in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities – or a small group of determined insurgents can halt the progress of an invading army and inflict a lot of damage as well as kill soldiers. In this way, the film is topical – perhaps perennially so.
1.The Iraq- Iran war? The memories? The perspective of 2006? The true story? The town of Khorronshar, on the border with Iraq, ordinary, the homes? The river? The bombardment, the experience of the war? The Iraqi headquarters? The Resistance movement? The musical score? The action sequences, the Iraqi tanks, the Partizans and the guns, the rockets? The helicopters?
2.The nature of the battle, the army and its strong attack, the Resistance with meagre resources, holding off the attack? The effect?
3.The title, the siege? The town on the border, the pre-war life, interchange between Iraqis and Iranians? Both in each side of the river? The Iraqis in the Iranian town, their work?
4.The introduction to the film: the prisoner coming out, his knife, upset, meeting the family, getting on the bike, riding to the front, confronting Reza, wanting to fight with him? The motivation of the family?
His change? Participating in the rescue?
5.Reza and the situation, his role amongst the Partizans, his sister, Samire(h?) and her being lame, her decision not to leave the house, his being upset with her not moving, becoming desperate with the advance, the fears? His decision to bury his sister, the limited food and water? The plan to return? The ordeal, her being able to breathe? Her watching the Iraqis from the peephole? Hiding, Reza and is return, unable to rescue her? The threats, the shooting, the violent confrontation? His decision? Her decision? The memories of the Iraqi leader, his being a teacher at the school, Samire and her teaching? Reza being angry about his wanting to marry Samire? The bomb in the marketplace, the many injured? Samire and seeing the teacher with the bomb? Her confronting him with this? The final rescue, the escape, Reza carrying his sister to safety, the deaths and the pursuit, the river? Samire finally shooting the teacher – after his declarations of love for her?
6.Reza, his life, the war, the younger brother, his wanting to be daring, and his death? Reza and the clash with his cousin, the discussions? His burying Samire, her being alone? His being unable to help? Return to rescue her?
7.The Iraqui? the change, his memories of the past, teaching in the school, wanting to marry Samire, the terrorist activity with the bomb, the deaths? His finding the house, searching it? Posting the guards? His going to the meetings, his orders to protect the house? Finding Samire, the pursuit, the helicopter? His declaration of love, her accusing him of atrocities, her shooting him?
8.The Partizan group, their personalities, leadership? The action? During the day, during the night? Interactions, the final decision to go, the attack? The collage of the different phone messages, each of them phoning their mothers?
9.The picture of the Iraqis, both good and bad? Seen as the enemy? The picture of Samire? The demonising of the Iraqi soldier – especially in his attempts to rape Samire? The commander shooting him?
10.The memories of the war, the effect and aftermath? …………….
