Le Président

Silence against cruelty only helps tyranny to become stronger, even worse than the worst dictator is the people who remain silent in his reign of terror. The president (2014) is poetic, poignant and precise.

A dictator falls into a position of traitor in his country as the result of social conflictional rebel. That unnamed country metaphorizes any dictatorship regyme in the real world. The president faces the cruelty, poverty and madness which are caused by his despotic politics. What an irony of truth is that Iranian Director Makhmalbaf had to shoot the film in Georgia and Tajikistan because of conservative preventions of Iranian governments. The president is really a brilliant movie and it indicates Makhmalbaf's top level of directorship experience.

a dictator . his fall. and beginning of a way. one of films who could be defined as puzzle of memories. because the run, the fear, the dialogues, the transformation and the last scene are pieces from a wise manner to reflect reality on screen who has few brilliant examples in Eastern films. not exactly a national school but a great cinematography. slices from Repetance of Abuladze or Tarkovsky's universe, splendid exploration of detail, the air who becomes material and the scene of home return, the beach and the arguments of young man, the fight with the past, in words, looks and intentions, each, all define a film who could be real discovered in its profound sense - the artistic side is only one from them - for the public who preserves in his personal past slices from a dictatorship.

Mohsen Makhmalbaf's 'The President' is a golden sociopolitical commentary piece that utilizes cinematography and satire to achieve his thesis. The film is beautifully written with touches of cultural realism coming from Makhmalbaf's Iranian background. The film follows the journey of a dictator, from an adored totalitarianism figure to a fallen, wanted man. The story is unforgettable and shocking, it starts a conversation on the fate of dictatorship, with an unexpected ending that leaves you thinking. The ending of the film is haunting, it is somewhat horrific in the sense that it represents humanity in its most brutal form, but more so, the ending was uncertain. Makhmalbaf comments on political dictatorship through 'The President,' but he does not force a view on the audience. This film allows the space for individual interpretations and opinions. This is a must watch. It is also evident that Makhmalbaf's stylistic choices shift significantly from his 1992 film 'Once Upon A Time, Cinema' where censorship and retraction were enforced on his production, to 'The President' where the entire film was shot in Georgia with less governmental guidelines. His style for films changes, and therefore structurally progressed. Both films, though stylistically different, are monumental films that present Makhmalbaf as an auteur.

The authority, power, and money dictatorship possess is fully presented through the screen in this film "The President". The plot's development in the exposition focused on the power dictator has over his people. "The President" relies on the technique of foreshadowing a lot throughout the film. The relationship between the dictator and his grandson was a major element that stood out to me. The run of the president was the reflection of the fall of the dictatorship and the rise of revolution. The particular technique that was the most essential part of the film and that made this film more dramatic was presenting the violence without actually showing it. Let me paint you a picture, a president who is on a run and warranted to be killed for a high reward in return. Throughout the run, there were many plots that highlighted the presence of violence under the influence of authoritarian leadership. Overall, the film presented the concept of family, justice, and dictatorship well. The purpose of this film was to spread awareness of the value of democracy and let the audience understand the consequences of authoritarian leadership. The film's plot developed relatively slow pasted, so if you don't like to spend that much time or can't pay close attention. This film might give you a headache. But, other than that this film is done very artistically and beautifully.