Krigsfortellinger

Iran 1980. Iranian society is disintegrating after a harrowing revolution. At a deserted radar station, a young man looks out towards the Iraqi border. Cobra helicopters fill the horizon. The war has begun.

Amir Mirzai is soon at the center of events that will shape an entire world, as a rebellious pawn in one of the longest and most brutal wars of the last century, the war between Iran and Iraq.

Tales of War is an unvarnished story about the many faces of war and the action-packed and gripping story of Amir Mirzai, an idealistic young man who dreams of a classless and just Iran, and therefore joins the revolutionary movement. During the first year of the war, Amir took part in several of the decisive battles, as a guerrilla soldier and as a communications coordinator in the air force. He experienced atrocities, shock, torture and madness, but also absurdities, friendship, love and moments of pitch-black humor.

As the war rages and the clergy consolidate their power in Iran, Amir's dreams collapse, and we follow Amir's failing faith in isms, mankind and himself right up to his flight from his homeland.

War stories create new and unexpected perceptions of a conflict we think we know, while at the same time addressing the true nature of war on a more general level. We all hear and read about war every day, but rarely do we have the opportunity to get so close to stories told by those who experienced them. Torgrim Mellum Stene is a co-narrator in the performance, and contributes as a Norwegian window into this complex and multifaceted story.

Supported by: Spenn.no, Arts Council Norway, FFUK and Fritt Ord.