This movie had me up until the last 20 minutes-it was easily a solid 8-star film. But after that war sequence and its awful ending, I can't give it more than 5 stars. The issue isn't just a shift in style and tone; even the dialogue, makeup, and most importantly, the main character arc all feel off. I don't know if that ending was forced in for some reason, but it certainly feels that way.
Up until the final act, I was enjoying every scene. Sure, there were a few minor issues here and there, but nothing that couldn't be overlooked. I couldn't care less if it borrowed heavily from Wes Anderson and Jean-Pierre Jeunet-their influence actually works in this story. Everything about this style-framing, symmetrical shots, precise and mechanical camera movements, detailed production design with a carefully curated color palette, quirky characters, sharp dialogue with a narrator's voiceover-is used effectively. Even in the Iranian context, these elements are translated beautifully. The balance between form and content is spot on. And honestly, just seeing a real production design effort on the big screen in Iranian cinema for the first time in ages was exciting in itself.
The film also nails other aspects of filmmaking. The tone is fantastic, and it even solves a problem I often have with Wes Anderson's films-where I don't feel emotionally engaged. With this one, I laughed a lot, but I also teared up when it mattered. The casting is excellent, and aside from a few minor moments, the performances are great. Seeing Gohar Kheirandish and Reza Kianian in a well-made film again was a real treat. The set design, costumes, cinematography, music-everything was working so well.
Unfortunately, all of that gets thrown off in the final stretch, which really starts when the friend returns from the war. Even after the war sequence begins, the first few minutes aren't too bad. But as I said, from that point onward, some fundamental things fall apart. The most obvious issue is the drastic shift in visual language. It's like they didn't know how to handle the open, gray war zone. The main character's transformation into a soldier (or as he calls it, "a man") by simply adding a beard was completely unconvincing-especially since the beard's color didn't even match his hair. The same thing happened earlier with his other friend.
The tone also shifts entirely, feeling completely disconnected from the rest of the movie. A tonal change isn't inherently bad, but it shouldn't feel like you've suddenly stepped into a different film or that something is being imposed on you. Just as the film kept its distance from the anti-revolutionaries, it could have done the same with the war. The dialogue also changes drastically, becoming excessively preachy and heavy-handed. The pacing feels rushed as if they were just trying to push a message rather than tell a story. None of the war characters have the same unique quirks or depth as the ones before.
But the biggest problem is the protagonist's transformation. While he reaches the expected destination, the way he gets there doesn't feel earned or convincing. If the film had kept some distance from the war elements, it could have landed a far more powerful and meaningful ending. Instead, the final moments take an even sharper turn into something that feels completely out of place-I still can't wrap my head around why they made that choice.
Honestly, I feel really disappointed. A huge part of the joy I felt throughout the film was completely erased by the final moments. By the time it ended, I was left with an overwhelming sense of disappointment. Before that, I was hopeful that this could become one of my all-time favorite Iranian films. Instead, it ended up just being another average movie.
That said, I still recommend watching it-just be prepared for a jarring, frustrating ending. If you can ignore the final stretch, you'll have a great time. I, unfortunately, can't.
