New Film Takes Us on an Iranian River Adventure

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By: Kraig Becker
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Way back in March of this year I told you about a new documentary that was in the works. The film followed the travels of U.K. adventurers Tom Allen and Leon McCarron as they traveled through Iran, following the Karun River from source to sea. The duo traced the origins of the river to the Zard Khu mountains, and then followed its entire length to the Persian Gulf, covering some 720 km (450 miles) on foot, packraft, and bike.

Along the way, they discovered a country that was not at all what they expected. The Iranian people were warm and inviting, greeting Tom and Leon with respect and friendship. This runs counter to the way the country is often portrayed in the media, particularly as Iranian leaders clash with the West on some fundamental political issues. But the Iranian people didn’t let those geopolitical conflicts influence how they felt about their visitors from he U.K., and as a result they came to call the country the “friendliest place on Earth.”

That film is now complete, and it was just released earlier this week through digital distribution on the Internet. You’ll find more about it on the official website at KarunFilm.com. You’ll also find a list of screenings for the doc, as well as instructions on how you can host a screening of your own. Tom and Leon are hoping to show the film to as many people as possible, as they would like to use it as a vehicle to inform others about just how welcoming the Iranian people truly are. While they set out on a grand adventure, they discovered that their film was as much about the people of Iran as it was their own expedition.

Below is the trailer for the documentary. If you’d like to watch the entire video, visit the film’s official website.

Karun: Misadventures On Iran’s Longest River (Official HD Trailer) from Tom Allen on Vimeo.

Kraig Becker
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