I think this is my favourite Iranian film of the Festival. I have seen three – Tales, Tehran Taxi and this. Tales had some good moments but Melbourne is a nicely constructed debut feature film that keeps you considerably uncomfortable throughout. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Iran
Tehran Taxi (2015)
StandardI almost liked this Iranian film. I wanted to like it. Jafar Panahi directed a couple of films I really liked – Crimson Gold and The White Balloon. In this one, he is in the centre of the story, playing himself and driving a taxi whilst filming. It is set up as if it is a documentary but it’s obvious that it is fictional and his passengers are (reportedly non-professional and uncredited) actors. It works well at the start, with a rough and authentic feel as people hop in and out, talking and arguing with each other. A man jumps in who recognises Panahi and so we realise who he is and that this is a docudrama. Continue reading
Tales (2014)
StandardThe Iranian films were the first ones I booked for the festival. Well, three out of the four screening. I blame the handful of brilliant Iranian films I have seen in the past year – A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, A Separation, The Past, Crimson Gold, Rhino Season. Of course this means my hopes were high for Tales. It was a little episodic, consisting of loosely linked tales that followed ordinary people as they grapple with the inequities, frustrations and tragedies of life in a country that is faltering. I don’t know the director, Rakhshan Banietemad’s, work but it seems that many of these characters were drawn from previous films. Continue reading
