Meu Bolo Favorito

This is my one and only review on IMDB.

I went into the cinema reluctantly for this one. Asked by friends to see it just to support our local cinema. I had no expectation and lots of prejudice. I thought this was going to be a Swedish-influenced movie about immigrants.

Instead I got suckerpunched by the sheer depression, the sheer loneliness and the sheer difference in culture this film exudes.

The acting is immensely good. I suspect the actors are more themselves than actually acting. They themselves can relate to the script in very real ways.

The story is the void itself with a glimmer of hope somewhere in the darkness but in the end nothing lasts.

I'm yet to see a larger-than-life Iranian film where characters defy physics, logic, and emotions-here's another sweet little gem to add to that list. This is a story of two 70-year-olds finding love one fine evening, sharing life's little details and cherishing its little moments along the way. We meet Mahin (an absolutely adorable Lili Farhadpour) as she goes about her day, understanding more about her through the slice-of-life interactions she has with the people around. Faramarz (Esmaeel Mehrabi, playing the tender counterpart to perfection) enters her life as randomly as it can get, and this leads to interesting conversations, wine, and merry-making. A late (and expected) swerve only reminds you of how happy moments don't last forever, but neither do the sad ones. Also, when all this plays out in a country that's big on moral policing, how can you not smile first (and sigh later)?

The adage "it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" is well-known, but what about people who have the courage to fall in love again? For a 70-year-old Iranian widow, it's a desperate attempt to feel alive again, but it's a bold move for anyone. That is the idea behind a sweet Iranian love comedy that is infused with surprising radicalism.

Mahin (played by the charming Lili Farhadpour) spends her days doing the same things: sleeping in till midday, rushing to answer FaceTime calls from her daughter who lives abroad, taking care of her garden, and visiting the less-than-local market from her home on the outskirts of Tehran. Each scene is portrayed as a nicely framed vignette by co-directors Maryam Moqadam and Behtash Sanaeeha, despite the setting's banality.

Keep an eye on it-words cannot help it. In a society where everyone is scrutinised and evaluated, genuine love endures forever, and it's simple to find if you look for it! This charming story serves as a reminder.

I watched this film in my favourite little local art house cinema not really knowing what to expect.

I have come to like films where I can watch other people's lives. People doing every day things. When they are set in different cultures - even more interesting.

Here we follow the life of an elderly woman in Iran and I was so touched by the beauty in the little things, the dinner with her girlfriends, how she spends her day.

The film holds an unexpected surprise that really stuck with me for a long time afterwards. It made me appreciate that I was able to see this film and that I am able to live my life (as a woman) in Europe.

I can recommend this film.

The movie had such an innocent vibe, but what it was trying to say really hit hard. Normally, I don't get emotional about old people, but just the fact that the main character was old was enough to make me feel sad. Maybe it's because of the actress's performance too; there was this pure loneliness in her eyes. I found myself really touched by the film.

The cinematography was beautiful too. I really liked the warm tones, the way the house was decorated, and how the garden was lit. Everything just fit so well. The moments between the two main characters, like when they danced and took selfies, were really sweet and tender. The ending hit harder this way, but a part of me still wishes movies like this would be a bit more clear with their message at the end.