Neighbours (German: Nachbarn; Kurdish: Ciran) is a 2021 film written and directed by Mano Khalil. A Swiss/French co-production, the film depicts the experiences of a Kurdish boy in a small Syrian border village during the early 1980s. It premiered at the BerlinaleâÂÂs European Film Market and went on to screen at more than 200 festivals worldwide.
Set in a Kurdish village on the SyrianâÂÂTurkish border, the film follows Sero, an innocent young boy. At age six he enters school for the first time, taught by a new teacher sent by the BaâÂÂathist regime. The village school becomes an instrument of propaganda, with the children forced to speak Arabic; Kurdish language and culture are suppressed, and the children are taught to denounce Israel and praise the president. Largely told through Sero's perspective, the story reveals how "absurd nationalism" can destroy community bonds.
The film was written and directed by Kurdish-Swiss filmmaker Mano Khalil, who based the story on his own childhood experiences near the SyrianâÂÂTurkish border. It was produced by Frame Film in collaboration with Pallas Film and MP Film Production. Principal photography took place in Northern Kurdistan and Syria, with post-production completed in Switzerland. Cinematography was by Stéphane Kuthy, and editing by Maya Schmid.
Neighbours explores childhood under dictatorship, the repression of Kurdish identity, and the tension between state ideology and human coexistence. Critics have noted its blend of tragedy and humor and its compassionate tone in depicting multicultural life under political pressure.
It was released theatrically in Switzerland and Germany in 2022 by Bernsteiner-Film, and distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Menemsha Films.
The film received positive reviews from critics.