Review by sanamer

Painting Pool is a delicate movie with multiple layers. On the surface, it shows the simple happy, yet very challenging life of a couple with some mental disabilities. Frustration of their ten-year old son about disabilities of his parents adds to the complications. The movie carefully shows how the lower and middle classes of the society suffer from consequences of international political power struggles and how while the resulting pressures affect relationships of normal couples, the main two adult characters, despite their disabilities, very maturely keep supporting each other. They are well aware of their disabilities, have accepted themselves and each other as they are, and have come to peace with it in their social life. Later into the movie we realize that a deep understanding of a very simple cliche advice that someone has given them on their wedding day and its daily practice in their life is one main reason behind their mature healthy relationship.

At a more hidden layer I believe the movie is not just about the challenges of mentally different people rather, it shows the complications that families face when parents are not enough for children, one way or another. They could be mentally different and poor in a society that is breaking apart, or can be well-educated immigrants with more than enough income, but an accent that causes their children feel embarrassed to present them as parents. The frustration and loneliness of the kids and frustrations, sadness, and heartbreak of the parents are very nicely shown in the movie. Despite all the complications and frustrations, emotional bounds are there; they miss each other and get worried for each other while they try to find peace in their hearts...

In my opinion Maziar Miri has done a great job. The cast plays very well, and in particular Negar Javaherian shines with her very natural believable attractive performance.