Filmium Back to search
Movie Backdrop

Born in Absurdistan streaming

Original title: Geboren in Absurdistan
1999 Movie Austria, Türkiye Drama, Comedy 99 min
By: Houchang Allahyari, Tom-Dariusch Allahyari With: Wolfgang Böck, Julia Stemberger, Hermann Scheidleder, Karl Markovics, Robert Hunger-Bühler

It all begins with a mistake, an error with serious consequences: in a hospital the new-born babies of an Austrian couple and a Turkish family of immigrant workers are mixed up and go home with the wrong parents. By the time the mistake comes to light, it emerges that the Turkish family, including the baby, has been deported. The despairing Austrian couple begins a confusing odyssey through Turkey in order to track down the unsuspecting family to their native village. But they are not at all convinced that the babies have been mixed up. It is decided that the only way to know for sure is to have a blood test done. It is decided that the blood work is done in Vienna due to the better medical resources, but that will be far from simple. It will involve an illegal smuggling of the Turks across the Austrian border.

Filmium rating
61%

Mood

Comedic
Satirical
Touching

Cast & Crew

Tom-Dariusch Allahyari
Houchang Allahyari
Agnes Pluch
Wolfgang Böck
Hermann Scheidleder
Josef Hader
Julia Stemberger
Meltem Cumbul
Robert Hunger-Bühler
Karl Markovics
Ahmet Uğurlu
Anna-Katharina Pretterebner
Houchang Allahyari (Director)
Maximilian Pretterebner

Budget

Low-Budget

Narrative Structure

Episodic
Linear

Style

Comedy
Drama
Satire

Time-Period

1990S

Central Conflict

Baby Swap
Family Separation
Identity Confusion

Characters

Austrian Couple
Government Officials
Nurses
Turkish Family

Ending

Family Reconciliation
Love For Children
Test Refusal

Historical Context

Immigration Issues
Late 1990S Austria

Key Plot Points

Blood Test Refusal
Family Search In Turkey
Hospital Mistake

Plot

Family Reconciliation
Hospital Mix-Up
Immigrant Family

Setting

Turkish Village
Viennese Hospital

Shooting Location

Turkey
Vienna

Theme

Cultural Integration
Family
Identity

Genre

Comedy
Satire

Audiences

Adult
Family

Titles

Born In Absurdistan

Critical Reception

Criticized
Naive Humor
Satirical

Reception

Critically Panned
Mixed Reviews
Popular In Austria

Production Countries

Austria
Turkey

Release Year

1999
mowizz ID: da4c773c-4c74-4fe1-8c78-3b649b2aee75
Imprint
Privacy policy
Terms and Conditions
About us
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Supported by:
KtBE
BAK
EGS
Suissimage
Swissperform
© 2026 Filmium GmbH - all external content remains the property of the rightful owner
Version: v1.2.77 (frontend) | (backend)