Rangeh eshgh

In Persian poetry, love and desire for another human being are both expressed frankly and frequently, and sometimes (though not always, as some scholars would have us believe!) as metaphors for the human desire for achieving union with God.In this documentary, shot in the historical city of Shiraz (ah,to be away from Tehran for once!) during the mourning month of Muharram, the film-maker alternates her focus between both worldly and other-worldly love. On the one hand we have three sets of people talking about their relationships (a couple married some years, the wife clearly somewhat disenchanted; a young man and woman - not yet a couple - in love with the idea of being in love; an old lady remembering the love of her life)while on the other these very people are shown preparing for or participating in the mourning festival. An intimate look at the lives of ordinary people, this documentary taught me much more about the place of religion in the everyday lives of Iranians than did many books. Highly recommended.

This documentary is a fresh look at Iran's social fabric. The director, Maryam Keshavarz, offers a lyrical portrayal of the men and the women in the film who discuss their views on love. Furthermore, "The Color of Love" tears down the (negative) Western perception of Iran that we receive daily through the news reports. When we look beyond the clothes, we see that young men and women of the East and the West have the same dreams and aspirations. For example, there was an interesting scene: During a religious holiday, some people go to the main square to mourn Imam Hossein (like a highly revered saint in the Christian tradition), whereas others go to the festivities to cruise and find a mate/spouse. The same scenario holds true in churches, where some church goers go to pray, while others go to meet their future spouse.

Maryam Keshavarz is a director to watch for.