Apr’26- Nominated By RB
Nominations
- Ali, The Goat And Ibrahim – 1 Vote
- Kolya – 1 Vote
- The Return – 1 Vote
- Bab’Aziz – 2 Votes
Plot Synopsis
The film follows Bab’Aziz (Parviz Shahinkhou), a blind old Sufi dervish, and his spirited young granddaughter, Ishtar (Maryam Hamid), as they wander through the vast, shifting sands of the desert. They are traveling to a great gathering of dervishes that takes place only once every thirty years. However, the location and timing of this meeting are unknown; Bab’Aziz explains that “those who are invited will find the way,” trusting entirely in faith and intuition to guide their footsteps.
To keep Ishtar entertained during their arduous trek, Bab’Aziz tells her the ancient story of a Prince who once ruled a lush kingdom. One day, while hunting, the Prince chased a gazelle deep into the desert. There, he encountered a small pool and became transfixed by his own reflection—or rather, the essence of his soul. He remained by the water for days, eventually abandoning his royal life and worldly possessions to become a dervish.
A Tapestry of Stories
As the pair journeys deeper into the desert, the narrative expands into a series of overlapping fables. They encounter other travelers, each with their own spiritual quest:
- Osman, a man who fell into a well and discovered a hidden palace, now spends his life jumping into every well he finds, hoping to return to the woman he met there.
- Zaid, a gifted singer whose beautiful songs won the heart of a woman named Nour. She eventually fled, stealing his clothes to disguise herself so she could cross borders to find her father.
- A Red Dervish, who finds spiritual ecstasy through the simple, repetitive act of sweeping.
The Ultimate Destination
As the gathering nears, the film explores the Sufi concept of “dying before you die.” Bab’Aziz, sensing his time on Earth is ending, begins to prepare for his “wedding day”—a Sufi metaphor for death being the ultimate union with the Beloved (God). He imparts final lessons of patience and surrender to Ishtar, teaching her that the journey itself is the destination.
The film culminates in a breathtaking scene at the secret gathering, where dervishes from all corners of the world converge to celebrate with music, poetry, and whirling dances. While Bab’Aziz gracefully meets his end in the quiet of the dunes, Ishtar continues forward, now a part of the endless cycle of seekers navigating the “eight mountains” of the soul.