''Aban and Khorshid'' (original title – ''Aban + Khorshid'') is a 2014 American
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
written and directed by
Darwin Serink
Darwin may refer to:
Common meanings
* Charles Darwin (1809–1882), English naturalist and writer, best known as the originator of the theory of biological evolution by natural selection
* Darwin, Northern Territory, a capital city in Australia, ...
.
The short film included in the DVD ''Boys On Film 14: Worlds Collide''.
Plot
Aban and Khorshid, an Iranian gay couple, are in adjacent prison cells, imprisoned and sentenced to death for their relationship. Flashbacks show Khorshid recording Aban, asking him to say his name and to sing, which Aban does. He asks Khorshid to tell him how they first met; on
Chaharshanbe Suri
Chaharshanbeh Suri or Charshanbeh Suri or Chahar shanbe suri (; ), is an Iranian peoples, Iranian festival of the fire dance celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year, of ancient Zoroastrian origin. It is the first festivity of No ...
, when Khorshid and some others were lighting a fire, Aban appeared "out of nowhere".
Back in their cells, Khorshid asks Aban what superpower he would like to have, and says he'd like to fly. Aban recalls sipping tea and pretending to be a
vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...
, using
cucumbers
The cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated creeping vine plant in the family Cucurbitaceae that bears cylindrical to spherical fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.publicly hanged. On the gallows, Aban answers Khorshid's question about superpowers, saying that he would also like to fly. He begins to break down, begging to have his blindfold removed so he can look at Khorshid one last time. To calm Aban, Khorshid tells him to "grab his wing". They hold each other's bound hands, but lose their grip.
Cast
*
Mojean Aria
Mojean Aria is an Australian actor known for his work in film and television who gained wider recognition for his role as Gether Bax in the Apple TV+ series '' See''.
Early life and career
Aria was born in Sydney, Australia. He first started t ...
as Aban
* Bobby Naderi as Khorshid
* Stahaub Roudbari as Break in Guard
* Hamid Nayini as Guard #2
* Arash Rahdari as Guard #3
* Shahaub Roudbari as Execution Guard #1
* Homayoon Doroodian as Execution Guard #2
Participation in international festivals and awards
2014:
* Casting Society of America (US)
* Image Out, The Rochester LGBT Film & Video Festival (US) -- Jury Award Winners: Best Short Film
* Iris Prize Festival – Cardiff (UK) – Highly Commended
* Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (US) – Short Film Awards: Men's – Jury Award, Audience Award
* Outfest (US) – Best of Fest
* Palm Springs International Film Festival (US) – Best of Fest
* SIFF, Seattle International Film Festival (US) – ShortsFest Award Winners: Live Action, Special Jury Mention, and Golden Space Needle Award – Best Short Film, Fourth runner-up
2015:
* Cannes Emerging Filmmakers Showcase, American Pavilion (France) – LGBTQ Showcase – winner
* CIFF 39, Cleveland International Film Festival (US) – Best LGBT Short
* GAZE International LGBT Film Festival – Dublin (Ireland) – Best International Short – Winner
Reviews
* "This is my first film at PSSF and it’s been great! I’ve been blown away by people’s responses to the film. I love watching it with an audience, hearing the heavy silences, hearing the focused attention, hearing the tears, hearing the hope..." (Tommee May, 2014-07-14).
* "Two Lovers, Even in Death" (Amos Lassen, 2016-02-15).