Entezar

This is an observational, practically plot-less film where Naderi follows a young boy as he is experiencing things that may be exotic or unfamiliar to Westerners - well, not the praying, that should be familiar, but other things like the gathering in the streets that involves ritualistic self-flagellation to music (that was... wow ok) - and the air of mystery snd revelation is what is so fluid and engrossing here.

I don't think Naderi wants us to understand everything that this boy is seeing and experiencing, but what's important is that he simply is in this world and doesn't turn a eye from the mant birds in his world, the man with the giant hand on the pole he holds up high, the praying, the chanting, everything that he is still trying to figure out. And all the while is that bowl with the ice that is melting ever so slowly (and will he yo get more)?

There's a poetic flow to these observations, even though it is so observational that your mind will wander through the scant 47 minute run time. What carries it is Naderi is concerned with images- especially that one small cat that keeps scampering around - and that concern meaning to make things vivid and vital based on his point of view. I'd also strongly advise watching this after The Runner (you're probably coming to this since its on the Criterion release anyway) as you'll appreciate how much Naderi was already intuitive in framing and cutting.