Born in Absurdistan (1999): cast, story & where to watch
1999 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1999, Born in Absurdistan is a comedy film directed by Houchang Allahyari, running about 110 minutes. “Born in Absurdistan - Crazy Immigration Movie” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Born in Absurdistan stars Karl Markovics as Stefan Strohmayer, Julia Stemberger as Marion Strohmayer, Meltem Cumbul as Emine Dönmez and Ahmet Uğurlu as Emre Dönmez, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Born in Absurdistan has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Born in Absurdistan page.
If you liked it. Fans of Born in Absurdistan tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Born in Absurdistan (1999)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Born in Absurdistan change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Born in Absurdistan worth watching?
- Born in Absurdistan holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Born in Absurdistan?
- Born in Absurdistan stars Karl Markovics, Julia Stemberger, Meltem Cumbul, Ahmet Uğurlu and Wolfgang Böck.
- When was Born in Absurdistan released?
- Born in Absurdistan was released in 1999, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.