A Song for Love

A finely tuned portrait of a young man that also offers a fascinating glimpse into the rituals, rhythmic drums and whirling dances of a Sufi fraternity.

Twenty-one-year-old nursing student Ibrahim is a dervish in Iraqi Kurdistan. He lives and works as a singer and general helper within a religious collective marked by humility, spiritual discipline and devotion to Allah. Through his poetic songs, he gives voice to his innermost feelings – his wish to marry the woman he loves and his anxiety about being able to support his ageing parents – while facing the high demands imposed by both his studies and his faith. With sensitivity and empathy, Hogir Hirori portrays the trials and joys of coming of age.

• Pia Lundberg