KobusAdAstra

In this finely tuned work of cinematic art we meet Mr Badii, who is desperately searching for someone to assist him to commit suicide. He is willing to pay his assistant well. All his helper has to do is to is to fill the grave Mr Badii has already dug, once he is sure that Mr Badii has died. Mr Badii found it really difficult to find an assistant. After many unsuccessful efforts to convince a young Kurd soldier, an Armenian seminary and others to help him, he meets a taxidermist who needs money to take care of his sick child, who agrees to assist. The taxidermist, too, had previously attempted suicide.

We are taken on a dusty road through a bleak mining landscape which suits the ambiance of the film perfectly. The film picks up momentum slowly, but once it got going, I sat glued to my seat.

We never know why Mr Badii is driven to suicide, but that is not important. By leaving such detail out, the director and writer, Abbas Kiarostami, elevates the film above the level of just another sentimental drama about death, with a clear beginning, motive and ending. This film is much more, in fact. It is an incisive meditation on life and death, clearly elucidated by the taxidermist, and by the silent action and demeanour of Mr Badii. The ambiguous ending is perfectly tuned too. This is a fascinating film with a lot of food for thought. It is clear why this film was awarded one of cinema's highest awards, the 'Palme d'Or' in Cannes.

Cinematography, acting and directing are top-notch. 9/10.

Iván, a 14-year old boy lives with his uncle Jaime in Mexico. Both dream about moving to the US. They plan to illegally move there and are seriously saving money for the journey. They specialize in buying stolen cars, strip them and sell the spare parts. They realize that they will have to increase their income because their people smuggler wants to leave for the US in three weeks. The two expand their business by stripping parked cars of wheels, rims and mirrors. The boy starts to involve a young friend to help. Then his uncle's girlfriend mentions that she wants to move with them to the US too. The uncle tells his nephew that first he and his girl will move to the US and send money so that the boy can join them later. This is not what they agreed upon and Iván has a physical altercation with his uncle, after which the boy runs away. This was only the start of his problems...

Excellent cinematography,a great score (Schubert chamber music) and particularly a tight script with good acting make this film a winner. 8/10.

Mille Mois is a rewarding and atmospheric film that takes place in a small Moroccan village during Ramadan of 1981. We quickly learn that there is civil unrest and that the father of Mehdi, the young protagonist, is in jail because of his political activities. It is up to Mehdi's grandfather to try to keep the family together.

Difficult circumstances with a devastating drought and government land-use policies force peasants off the land. The barren and harsh landscape is well captured by the camera.

We see the village and its people through the eyes of young Mehdi and in the process meet a range of colourful characters, from corrupt politicians to devout Muslims.

Although the pace of the film is slow, it is rich in nuance and ultimately rewarding. Mention must be made of the great, natural performance of Fouad Labied, the young actor who played Mehdi, as well as the outstanding cinematography. 7.5/10.