“We can better Iran” - Female activist
In 2009 the Iranian presidential election was exposed as a blatant displays of fraud and intimidation. Citizens who found themselves frustrated with the state of affairs took to the streets. What started off as peaceful protests demanding honest elections ended with a brutal silencing. This documentary follows the events leading up to the protests from the perspective of successful outspoken women who are professors, journalists, lawyers and activists. Women in the country on a daily basis face demeaning laws that views their gender as half that of a man and limits opportunities.
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Undoubtedly, this is a prominent issue in Iran. However Winther’s documentary presents a strictly one dimensional point of view that clearly has an agenda to target the Iranian government rather than present a complete view on the issue at hand. Women’s rights are a complicated matter that is saturated within society on several levels ranging from the family to religion. While the Islamic regime might reflect oppressive sentiments, they are not the root of the problem. Ironically, Iran’s treatment of women has a record of being far more liberated than other U.S. allies within the region such as Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. The film uses imagery and editing to propel its own agenda, and its clear right away that the documentary is not created from an Iranian’s perspective.
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the bravery of the women featured is certainly commendable, but the errors of the documentary are unforgivable. The situation in Iran is unfortunately not so black and white as the film suggests, and the Islamic republic and the Iranian people will not bend to the desires of the west. It is worth watching to appreciate the strong Lion Women, but the admiration ends there.
“A sad ending is better than sadness without ending” 
A thrilling story about a vacation among friends gone wrong when their guest goes missing. This movie directed by Asghar Farhadi (the creator of A Separation) keeps audience members captivated by the mystery and more importantly gives a reason to reflect on one’s own character. If you liked A Separation, you will like this ten times more.
“I realized I was still a poor man who could not support his family and lived in a godforsaken place. When I woke up the next day, still unemployed, I understood that nothing had changed. It was hard to go on playing this part – it was very hard to pretend to be someone else - but at the same time I liked it… I started to believe I was the director. I really felt it; I wasn’t acting anymore. It was hard to go home each day having to shed my character” - Hossein Sabzian.
The film “Namaye Nazdik” (Close-Up) by acclaimed Iranian director Kiarostami first made its appearance onto international screens in 1990. A couple of decades later, the movie still stands as a gem of sophistication and modern film making that plays on the emotions of the audience. The premise of the movie is based on a true story, and shockingly enough, the actors are the actual people involved in the real-life event. The protagonists and antagonists all take the roles of themselves and reinact the story to be told. The film revolves around Mr. Sabzian, a poor unemployed man who’s passion in life is cinema. One day while riding the bus he meets a middle aged woman whom in the spur of the moment Mr. Sabzian convinces her that he is the famous director Makhmalbaf. As he attempts to get closer to the woman and her family, they catch onto his façade and take him to court for attempted fraud. This court scene was the actual trial for Mr. Sabzian and also where the majority of the film is presented.
This seemingly flat plot along with lack of drama and experienced actors should not act as a deterrent to watching this film. In fact it is these three things that play together to bring about a heart wrenching story. The captivity of the movie lies within Sabzian’s ability to take his sorrow and deepest thoughts and bring them forth to create the drama the film needs. Kiarostami does not use a plot as a crutch, rather is able to recreate an emotional roller-coaster not through ups and downs in the story but ups and downs in the characters. He uses techniques of a docudrama to make the audience member feel as if they are sitting right there beside the actors in the courtroom - gripping you to Sabzian’s life.
However this movie is truly not for everyone’s taste. You must watch with an open mind and heart not expecting anything to happen except a transcending movie experience on an emotional level.
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