Valderama

We see it time and again with good Iranian (or Turkish) movies.

The culture, situations, and behaviours look very different to Anglo or European norms.

Yet the movies have an intelligence and immediacy which makes the differences skin deep.

Set aside its confusing title, and take a chance on this scantily watched and barely reviewed movie if it crops up near you.

Amini's brisk take on a coming of age situation, with his brash but touchy central character fleeing the boondocks to the bustle of Tehran, immerses itself in the culture with a sophisticated point of view and a considerable lack of sentimentality.

The cinematography is bold and illuminating, whether in the harsh light of commuter rush hour or the darker evenings of Valderama's scungy lodgings. As with a Farhadi movie, the moral palette is subtle, forget about ticking off the good guys and the bad guys.