Bedoone Tarikh, Bedoone Emza

In this movie, several seemingly small decisions result in a cascading shower of unexpected and disproportionately unfortunate events. This may sound like heavy-handed Greek tragedy (or Persian tragedy in this case), but the actors and the director keep the movie grounded and real. The acting is very solid.

On the negative side, there were several points where the story is following the lead-up to a key event in some detail and then jumps past the event itself. It seems like an odd and anti-dramatic editing choice.

Note. As with almost any Iranian film for adults, it is a useful corrective for us Americans and our stereotypes of downtrodden Iranian women, to see how tough-minded and outspoken the women can be.

"No Date, No Signature" is a character study from Iran and perhaps the best film shown in the U.S. this year to date. It's an engrossing story of an Iranian doctor who sideswipes a motorbike carrying a couple with two small children. He makes amends as best he can but doesn't tell the police as his insurance has lapsed. Several days later a boy's body is brought to the hospital where he works, and he immediately recognizes the name. The boy is said to have died due to food poisoning, but was he in some way responsible?

The acting in this picture is superb and all are Iranian actors. The doctor wrestles with his conscience and decides to autopsy the boy himself. The doctor is the star of the picture, but the man who plays the boy's father is outstanding, the best acting our shores have seen in a long time. I don't do spoilers, but you would have to see this film to appreciate the level of competence by all concerned. Another surprise is how courteously the women are treated, since we have been conditioned to believe that women are considered second-class citizens.

Movies of this caliber are seldom made in the U.S. anymore. Most are made for teenagers and it is refreshing to see a well-made movie for adults. You'll have to work to see it as it's only at one theater, NYC's Film Forum. The title refers to the death certificate, which the doctor will not sign until satisfied.

8/10 - The website no longer prints my star ratings.

Both concerns are secondary to the major theme of the story which is how a small incident can unexpectedly affect so many lives. Also, wonder if this script is a reflection of current Iranian society. 1. First, the investigative, judicial, medical institutions permitting a physician that was intimately connected with the death of a young Iranian boy to perform an autopsy. And, that it was allowed into court w/out independent verification or legal & police oversight & followup. 2. Disturbed by how males communicate to females as if they were training a dog. Only when they themselves are in trouble do they show some submissive compassion.

No Date, No Sign (2017) is an Iranian movie co-written and directed by Vahid Jalilvand.

Amir Aghaee portrays Kaveh Nariman, a respected forensic pathologist. One evening he has a traffic accident in which no one appears to be seriously injured. However, three days later, a dead child is brought to the pathology department. Dr. Nariman realizes that this boy is the child who had been slightly hurt in the accident.

Leila (Zakieh Behbahani), a skilled colleague and friend of Dr. Nariman, performs the autopsy. The real plot starts at that point.

Navid Mohammadzadeh portrays Moosa, the father of the young boy. He's a powerful actor, and is truly the lead actor in the film.

In fact, all three actors are extraordinarily talented. Vahid Jalilvand is a brilliant director. Director and actors have combined to give us an extraordinary movie. The film will hold your interest in every scene. It will work well on the small screen. No Date, No Signature has a solid IMDb rating of 7.3. I think it's even better than that.

This movie was great you wanted to keep watching. The acting was great (especially from Navid Mohammadzade) It was better then alot of other movies i have but it was not the best.