“Track 143” published in Tehran

TEHRAN – Persian war novel “Track 143”, based on which a film of the same title was produced last year, was unveiled at Tehran’s Andisheh Cultural Center on Tuesday.

 

Published by Sureh-Mehr Publications, the book has been written by Narges Abyar, who also directed the movie, the Persian service of MNA reported on Wednesday.

 

“Track 143” highlights the story of a mother named Olfat, a woman who is waiting for her son, who has been missing in action since the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, to return home.

 

“The book actually tells the stories of thirteen young adult combatants who went to the war, however the story of the mother of one of the boys was particularly interesting to me so I wanted to highlight it,” Abyar said at the ceremony.

 

“I completed research on the book in 2001 and 2002, and published it in 2006. The novel was selected as the best novel of Iran’s Sacred Defense Book of the Year awards. However, it was not well received, but later it was published under the title ‘Track 143’”, she added.

 

Abyar continued that she believes mothers who are waiting for their missing-in-action sons are the real mothers, adding, “I have seen many women like (Olfat) around me in the streets, in the neighborhood, or even among relatives, and I tried to concentrate on those characters of whom I have better knowledge”.

 

She also added, “Our country needs a proper definition of anti-war drama. I wish there was such a definition so that not all stories dealing with the aftermath of the war would be called anti-war novels.

 

“We were victims of the war and we should show the world what has happened during these eight years. Showing the consequences of the war does not equate to being anti-war,” she explained.

 

Addressing the participants, she concluded, “We have many characters and heroes, whom we must portray. So please pray for me, since I want to continue on this path and it is one of my wishes to make films for the heroes of my country.”

 

Filmmaker Ali Basheh-Ahangar who was also present at the ceremony congratulated Abyar for her portrayal of the painful emotional moments and her respect for the families of the martyrs.

 

He called the mothers of the martyrs and their families a great treasure of the eight-year Sacred Defense (1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war) and asked the Muslims to help register images of their words and love.

 

The film “Track 143” was widely acclaimed at the 32nd Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran last February.

 

Merila Zarei, Mehran Ahmadi, Gelareh Abbasi, Yadollah Shademani and Javad Ezzati star in the film.

 

Zarei won a Crystal Simorgh for Best Actress for the portrayal of Olfat in “Track 143” at the festival.

 

Abyar received the special jury prize and her film was selected as the Audience Favorite Film at the festival.

 

RM/YAW

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