First off, you gotta realize the entire culture, ideological oppression, trauma and hopes and dreams of average Iranians in that era in Iran which still continues in much darker ways today.
This movie was banned for 3 years for portraying such taboo topics (now they might seem innocent in comparison) in a foreign location like Istanbul. There was no movie like this ever made in Iran when it came out. It stood out, made a buzz and triggered many.
Secondly, almost no Iranian movies are available in any decent quality in the country, even if you wanna purchase it officially. So you have to factor that.
The dialogues in the movie that almost always rhymes comically in persian are literally untranslatable to the western audience no matter how you put it. They have become catch phrases to many. So, when it comes to translation, much like poetry, the humor here has no chance of survival.
Having watched it on big screen upon its release in a time that almost every bit of ''fun'' was publicly frowned upon in Iran, I still feel the aura and the nostalgia of the time.
The movie masterfully depicts the agony of a man at the end of his rope, having to deal with the senseless sharks profiting from such ordeals in an alien location. The acting is great all around, the music gives me shivers and the storyline is solid.
I had to make an account just to write this review cause this movie lacks the recognition it deserves, at least here on IMDB.
