Halkawt Mustafa’s war film premieres at Venice Film Festival

Halkawt Mustafa’s film, ‘No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman’, was presented in the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival. The production serves as Iraq’s entry for the Oscars.

Set in Mosul, the film follows Vyan, a Kurdish female sniper who gained notoriety during the conflict against ISIS. The narrative centers on Vyan’s mission to find her sister, who disappeared during the 2014 attacks. The film was shot on location in Mosul, utilizing real spaces within the city to provide an authentic backdrop to the war drama.

While critics noted the film’s strong visual detail and intense warzone sequences, some reviews suggested the film struggled to balance its thriller elements with deep character development and moral inquiry.