Respiro

Wow! Every year the Iranians surprise us with a new masterpiece. The directing, the acting and the cinematography are spectacular. I enjoyed every shot of this movie. I think the international film festivals won't overlook choosing this movie as the best one in every category. This little kid, Bahar, convinced me in every move she takes. She played the role perfectly.

I have read a lot of criticism about this movie. Some seem to believe it is part of the Iran's governmental propaganda. I do not find it a fair view. I wish we all could forget about "who said" and focus on "what was said". In this sense, regardless of who has funded the movie, you might like Nafas, because it truly reflects the effect of revolution and war on the life and dreams of a very ordinary, but creative, imaginative, and smart kid. If you liked movies such as "Amelie", "The legend of 1900", and "In this corner of the world", you might find some of the finest elements of these movies in Nafas (the Breath). In none of those three movies one could find a rigid core for the story. They were simply reports. Reports about lives and dreams of common people through their day to day lives and thoughts. And I find them quite successful movies, not only because of the awards they won, but more because of the fantastic feeling, and view they gave me. To me, this movie, Nafas, is an anti war movie. A movie which shows how big political shifts can ruin the dreams of a generation. A totally lovable, talented generation. I can watch Nafas over and over (like the other three movies). I also have to congratulate the cast of the movie, for their brilliant plays. Well done!

The structure is complete, smoothly made and shaped out of a great line. The acts are extraordinary. You hate the war and violence against the children in every second of this movie. You could have a really close feeling of your childhood throughout the story. Complete in every element! Every scene was filmed amazingly and i enjoyed watching every frame. You can feel the presence of the director. Those animation works into the mind of Bahare showing how she was thinking break the long scenes and stop you to get bored. Also the director "Narges Abyar" is a woman and she could understand the mind of a child and a father better than a man. The role of NANE AGHA was amazingly put and shaped into the story and you wanted to love her but also you couldn't love her.

Nafas (En: Breath) is one of those movies that some audiences like very much and others don't like it at all. But I am the one who loved this movie so much and watched it curiously until the end.

"Breath" is a calm poetic story told from the point of view of a child with the brilliant acting of Sara Noor Mousavi.

Some may consider the lack of a story and storyline as one of the most important weaknesses of this film, but in my opinion, this is a strong point of the film. Without facing a particular story, you sit in front of the intellectual concerns of a seven-year-old child for more than two hours and travel with her in her imaginary world without getting tired.

Breath is a harrowing and affecting film, propelled by an incredible performance from the young actress Sareh Nour Mousavi. This is Narges Abyar's finest, most passionate, and most accomplished work as a writer & director. The storyline has a great deal of refreshing and completely genuine authenticity that's immediately present from the very first scene. This brilliant film will leave you feeling broken, but it's a must see.