animal noise

That is just a cynical trick to set the mood of the viewer for the events that have to come. Most directors use these kinds of tricks. Without the viewers knowledge it alters his/her mood.

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If you look at the answer from cellowoman725 in a different post, she says, “The father heard bird sounds, as did Mohammed, but they were different bird sounds. The father's were ominous, and usually showed up when something bad was going to happen, or when the father was being selfish. To get the sound, the crew took a turkey call, slowed it down, and I believe slightly altered the pitch.”

The ominous noise was either a tiger or leopard barking. The Caspian Tiger has been extinct for about 30 years, but it was a huge animal. If the director was trying to be authentic, it would have been a leopard. There are still leopards in that part of Iran capable of attacking a smallish adult human. If the director was trying to exaggerate, then it would be the tiger. The Caspian Tiger photos I have seen indicate an animal the size of a cow and would have been absolutely terrifying. I can't imagine the slate miners being so calm if they heard one. They were also absolutely silent hunters, so my vote is with the leopard.

It was the sound of a hyena most likely. But that isn't important. Others have mentioned what is was symbolic for.

It's the sound of an owl. They're considered bad omens in the Middle East which is why the father was always so frightened upon hearing it. It was foretelling something bad and it really happened.


"Tool up, honey bunny. It's time to get bad guys."