La valise rouge

This is perhaps the single best international short film ever made. It's gripping, emotionally riveting, and does the impossible: puts us in the position of a young Iranian girl in an airport in Luxembourg and forces us to empathize with her incredibly vulnerable circumstance and the few options she's afforded.

Cyrush Neshvad ratchets up the dramatic tension the way great suspense masters like Hitchcock, Kubrick and the Coens' do: by merely tossing us Direct Imagery for us to interpret. As Billy Wilder said "Make the audience add "A plus B equals C" and they'll love you.

I hate that this film exists in our world.

But I feel changed and will remember it always.

Nawelle Ewad, who speaks only Farsi, doesn't want to get her suitcase, go through customs, and meet the man whom her father has affianced her to -- sold her, actually.

I get it. I got it about three minutes into this 18-minute movie, and so should anyone who is not actively stupid. It's a well performed role, as all the menace takes place in Miss Ewad's head, and it's on view from the moment she appears. That said, these things need some modulation and some visual indicator of real risk, which was never quite present, unless a man throwing a bunch of roses to the floor is considered menacing.

It all takes place around the Luxembourg air port, and was at least partially funded by the Luxembourg Filming Fund.

The Red Suitcase. Despite the fact that this only runs for 17 minutes there is a real sense of menace and suspense that builds nicely. Well acted and beautifully directed the film deserves all the praise it has been getting. A great musical score and a film that draws you into the world it's inhabiting. A story told without words and yet we know and feel every emotion the young girl is going through. This deserves all the praise being heaped on it and deserves to do well during award season. Please do seek it out. A short film is, in my view a success if it leaves you satisfied and this one does.

I really hope this astonishingly moving short film appears on major streaming platforms soon so it can reach the much wider audience it deserves. Masterfully filmed and gut-wrenching. So many memorable moments: the careful examination of the contents of the girl's suitcase, the girl beholding her own reflection in the airport restroom, and the messages displayed on the billboards and advertisements in the background (in wild contrast to the sobering situation at hand). I was on the edge of my seat during the scene on the bus. I intend to watch Cyrus Neshvad's other films. Nawelle Ewad was mesmerizing as the film's protagonist.

This is a best movie, I have seen in a long time.. It kept me on the edge of my seat since I saw that suitcase stoped on the band...it brought me right into scene, and I was feeling so involved in all what happened.. I wish I would be there!!

This deserve Oscar in my book.. incredible, heartbreaking story of courage... I must say, that girl is still on my mind, I hope she is safe This is a best movie, I have seen in a long time.. It kept me on the edge of my seat since I saw that suitcase stoped on the band...it brought me right into scene, and I was feeling so involved in all what happened.. I wish I would be there!!

This deserve Oscar in my book.. incredible, heartbreaking story of courage... I must say, that girl is still on my mind, I hope she is safe.