El Clásico

Even dwarfs started small, Werner Herzog said, which is also the case in this new feature film of the Norwegian-Kurdish director Halkawt Mustafa, El Clásico. It is a fact that there are two things that cause people to behave irrationally – football and love. El Clásico mixes both elements. The result: a bomb of charm, below one's breath and with subtle humor!

The short Kurdish brothers Alan and Shirwan lives in Iraq. They are best friends, but have different opinions of things. Shirwan is a blood fan of Barcelona, while Alan is cheering for Real Madrid. But actually, Alan is not interested in football. His real interest lies in pleasing his potential father in law, Jalal, who loves Real Madrid. Alen wants to ask for his daughters hand, Gona. They have a secret relationship. He braces himself to ask, but receives a blank no. Jalal will not let Gona marry a dwarf, he should follow his brothers example and find a wife of his own size.

Alen refuses to give up. He must prove that he deserves Gona's hand! Shortly after, there is a match between Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain, the very El Clásico. The entire home town will be sitting glued to their screens. If Alan makes it to the match, hands over a pair of football shoes to Ronaldo, and it all is shown on TV, then, Jalal surely must realize that he is a worthy son in law? For this to go well, many factors need to fall into place! Luckily, Shirwan joins the thrilling journey on a bright green ATV through conflictual Iraq, heading for Madrid.

Halkawt Mustafa (b. 1985) is from Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, and is both a director and screenwriter. He moved to Norway in 2000 and is a graduate of NISS. El Clásico (2015) is his second feature film. His directing debut came with Red Heart (2011), which he also produced. In 2015 he directed the TV documentary The Women ISIS Fears.

Artist talk: Halkawt Mustafa
Film: El Clásico
Time: 17. oktober kl. 15
Location: Klingenberg 1
In connection with the screening there will be a conversation with the director Halkawt Mustafa and Norwegian co-producer Anders Graham.