THE NATION OF DRAMA

Iran is one harsh country and such harshness gives birth to some strong existential real life dramas.

„Life+1 day” is basically a filmed stage play, revolving around one family and its inner courtyard. Three brothers and two sisters will form the backbone of this thorough digging inside the Persian social system and norms, as well as the problems that each and every single family like this one has. True epicenter will be the Mohsan’s (phenomenal Navid Mohammadzadeh) drug addiction and young Somayeh’s arranged marriage to an Afghan.

There won’t be much action, but you won’t lack talking. And talking. And talking. Just like the old Hollywood, based on a strong backbone of every successful drama.

The SCRIPT.

And Saeed Roustayi’s script will make you think, laugh and cry, just so as the real life does. The real life, not imaginary and politically correct problems forced into the movie industry by wealthy producers. „Just” real life.

„Life+1day” is a great drama from a country that redefined drama genre outside Europe.

LIFE+1DAY – 8/10

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ULTRA CONSERVATIVE

Iranian cinematography tends to deal with its subjects in a unique way, due to ultraconservative society and some serious limitations when it comes to censorship. Those circumstances lead to a development of some fine and delicate artistic expression between Persian movie directors, like Ashgar Farhadi.

However, he didn't succeed to develop the story about the attack on a woman of a school teacher in a satisfyingly interesting and original way with his script for „Salesman”. Yes, there will be heavy exposure of local customs concerning women and their relationship with men, but the situations and dilemmas that they create just won’t reach the heights of his previous work, namely the much acclaimed „Separation”. The outcome will follow the overall tempo and the taste of the movie, not awing the viewer like it was meant to do.

„Salesman” is „just” a solid drama from a drama renown cinematography.

SALESMAN – 5/10

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TOO ARTIFICIAL

Jafar Panahi is one of the leading Iranian movie directors, especially when it comes to Western audience, hooked on the fact that he was banned from making movies by the satanised local government.

To fight this unjust ban, he decides to pose as a taxi driver and make a omnibus documentary about the social problems in modern Iran. He does it hastly, incoherently and above all, unconvicingly.

There are a lot of better Iranian movies about the social problems in that country than „Taxi Tehran”. Also, there are a lot of better Iranian movies than „Taxi Tehran”. A lot.

TAXI TEHRAN - 3/10

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BEAUTIFUL, BUT EMPTY

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Unexpected co-production between the Iran and USA is a modern interpretation of the ever-repeating motive of the love between the female vampire and a mortal, set on the outskirts of the grim Persian suburb.

Even though the directing reinvents the capabilities of the black and white camera, the story and painfully slow rhythm tend to make the indisputable artistic achievements pointless. That’s a true shame, because this could have been an instant indie classic in the genre.

”A girl walks home alone at night” is one beautifully shot and directed indie, but sadly, without much sense and direction when it comes to script and characters.

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT - 4/10

TRIUMPH OF CONSISTENCY

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Iranian cinematography is one the Asian’s most influential film industries. Its reputation is primarily being built on heavy drama genre and ”Children of heaven” is one of those dramas.

The story is quite simple. Brother and a sister must share a pair of sneakers due to his clumsiness that lead to the losing of her repaired shoes. Overall atmosphere is grim and heavy economical situation is the basis of the plot.

On the other hand, both kid actors are just adoring and the script is really consistent in its basic punch line. Director Majid Majidi follows that consistency with its camera and action sequences (mostly running) all the way to a bit of disappointing ending.

”Children of heaven” is a powerful and timeless ”family drama” for the entire family that will make you stop taking things for granted.

CHILDREN OF HEAVEN - 9/10