srdiplomat

...Meow

I can say it was a bad film, and at the same time I can say it wasn't. It wasn't bad in the sense that, compared to the Iranian comedies I've seen lately, it's definitely better. But it was bad because it still lacks some of the most basic elements a good film should have.

My biggest issue with movies like this is how illogical the events are. Nothing feels believable - not even in a way that makes you want to believe it.

The second, and more important problem for me, is the absence of proper setup/payoff. The writer just pulls things out of thin air and throws them at us (usually through flashbacks). In good films, this doesn't happen. A smart writer plants the seeds early on; something small is introduced that seems unimportant at first, but when it comes back later and becomes crucial, it surprises you - and everything suddenly clicks together.

P. S.: Setup/payoff means introducing an object, character, or idea at one point (setup), and cleverly using it later in the story (payoff). It's usually subtle at first, which is why its later significance can be so surprising and satisfying.

Overall, though, Bahram Afshari's solid performance and a few entertaining action scenes - which we rarely see in Iranian films - make this movie suitable for a one-time watch, especially with family.

Score: 4/10

Mewooo...

Yet another nonsensical entry from what is supposedly Iran's comedy cinema - a film that doesn't even qualify for serious critique. Things became even darker for me when I found out this movie had actually been nominated at the Fajr Film Festival for three categories: Best Actor, Best Makeup, and Best Production Design. Unbelievable.

The only potential charm the film could have had was Parinaz Izadyar - I think this was her first time acting in a comedy. But the director had already planned for that too. By giving her character, Soraya, an unnecessary speech impediment, he managed to neutralize even that one redeeming factor, successfully turning the whole thing into a truly terrible film.

This film is about both destruction and creation - the destruction of tyranny and the creation (or reclaiming) of freedom. I watched it after Jadi recommended it, though it had been sitting on my own watchlist for years, gathering dust.

I think it's always hard to talk about or narrate something that everyone has already witnessed - whatever you say, they've already seen it, so it easily turns into repetition. That's also true for V for Vendetta. Speaking about a fascist government and an authoritarian leader is difficult for those who have lived under such a regime for years.

The movie perfectly illustrates how governments that believe people don't need freedom - that "peace" (or as they call it, security... though even that is a joke when you might get stung by the bees or pickpocketed any moment) - eventually end up corrupt and destructive. It's also a strong response to those who say, "We just want a good life; freedom doesn't matter to us."

I loved this film mainly because it's not only rebellious but also deeply thoughtful. I definitely recommend watching it.

My personal rating: 6/10 IMDb's rating: 8.1/10.