It's become standard practice now for acclaimed short films to be expanded into feature-length movies by emerging directors. All they really require is a producer and distributors; actors can be newcomers. This film was inspired by the short film of the same name, like 'Short Term 12' or 'District 9'. Most importantly, these films achieved significant success because of their compelling stories, characters, and narration. The movie comes from an Iraqi filmmaker who now lives in Sweden. Many recent movies—in fact, all of them—focus on Iraq as a war zone. However, this film is poetic, filmed on location, and presents a peaceful, beautiful 1990s Iraq that you likely haven't seen in years. The two main characters were inspired by the director and his older brother when they were children living in Iraqi Kurdistan. The story itself is mostly fictional, with the exception of the children’s dreams from the developing world. I have to agree—the movie really illustrates how American products, movies, and culture influence young people in a country like Iraq. Their intense fascination leads them to dream big without realizing those aspirations might be unattainable. As someone who isn't American, you probably experienced a similar obsession during your childhood with things like soda brands, fast food chains, or TV cartoons and comic books. In some ways, it’s a small part of everyone’s story. > "If a family is united, they will be strong." There isn't an exact translation for 'Bekas'. According to the director’s explanation in an interview at one film festival, it means ‘homeless orphans’. The movie centers on two young Kurdish boys, Dana and Zana, along with references to Superman, Michael Jackson, and Coca Cola. If you were to compare it, it's like a combination of 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'In This World'. The film starts similarly to 'Slumdog Millionaire', with kids playing football before moving on to their work instead of going to school. Many scenes resemble those other films I mentioned. When the brothers are separated, it felt reminiscent of 'The Gods Must Be Crazy 2'. While the screenplay originality is lacking, otherwise it’s a wonderful film. There are moments that genuinely keep you on edge—scenes with check-points and landmines create tension and excitement. The emotional impact wasn't quite there; it seemed more like a dark comedy. It feels somewhat commercialized rather than truly realistic. The music was excellent, a great combination to portray the adventures, and the two strong performances helped make it an enjoyable film for families. There might be many reasons to criticize this movie because of its similarities to other films, but overall I felt happy. Critics will still find fault with it, but despite those flaws, it’s definitely worth seeing.

Source on TMDB