Big drum under left foot is an 2004 Iranian

Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...

 movie directed by Kazem Masoumi about the Iran Iraq war.

Plot

A group of Iranian soldiers are trapped on the frontlines, and are suffering from lack of water. Raising a white flag, one of the Iranian soldiers goes to the only spring in the region which is located between the two front lines. At that moment it is revealed that the Iraqi side has the same problem, and has also sent a man to fetch water from the spring. The Iranian group's commander is considering the situation when suddenly a mortar bomb hits just behind the Iranian front line. The commander, fearing an ambush, shoots and kills the Iraqi soldier. Subsequently, it is revealed that the Iraqi soldier was alone and that no ambush was intended. Ashamed of his actions in the light of this new information, the Iranian commander commits suicide.

Reception

The film takes a critical view of the war, opposing the majority view in Iran at the time. The film also challenges the Iranian government's propaganda which regards the conflict as a holy war. The film was banned in Iran.

Title

The title of the movie refers to a command used in the Iranian army to regulate the marching of soldiers during parade.