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The Many Lives of Kojin

Name: The Many Lives of Kojin
Director: Diako Yazdani
Released: 2020
Duration: 87 min

Representation Score

6.6/10

Good

2020

Director

Diako Yazdani

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Many Lives of Kojin is a powerful exploration of identity and displacement. By intertwining the personal journey of a gay man with the geopolitical realities of the Kurdish diaspora, the film transcends mere visibility to provide a deeper understanding of identity and displacement. The director's experience as a political refugee lends authenticity to the film's exploration of how individual autonomy conflicts with traditional societal structures. This firsthand perspective enables the documentary to challenge Western-centric views and colonial gazes. Ultimately, the film succeeds by centering underrepresented voices, allowing them to define their own cultural and social landscapes rather than being viewed through an external lens.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Many Lives of Kojin have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on a 23-year-old gay man living in a traditional Kurdish society. It delves into the psychological and social challenges faced by those with non-straight identities, giving them significant narrative control.

How does The Many Lives of Kojin portray gender?

Fair

While the film touches on the disruption of traditional social roles, it does not delve deeply into specific subversions of gender hierarchies or the portrayal of masculinity and femininity.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Many Lives of Kojin?

Excellent

The documentary stands out by presenting Iraqi Kurdistan through a non-Western perspective. It gives characters of color the opportunity to shape their own cultural and familial dynamics.

How does The Many Lives of Kojin represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative highlights the tension between individual identity and communal expectations in traditional societies. It offers a nuanced look at the refugee experience and the systemic barriers faced by individuals.

Does The Many Lives of Kojin include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not explicitly address the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Strong focus on queer identity and control within a traditional setting.
Authentic, non-Western depiction of Iraqi Kurdistan and its cultural landscapes.
Sophisticated exploration of the intersection between refugee status and individual identity.

Limited or Absent

Limited exploration of specific subversions of gender hierarchies or roles.
No visible representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

In a first-person documentary, Diako Yazdani, a political refugee in France, returns to see his family in Iraqi Kurdistan and introduces them to a 23-year-old gay man from Kojin who seeks to exist in a society where he seems unable to find its place. With humor and poetry, the director delivers a moving portrait where the meetings of each other invite to a universal reflection on the difference.

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