I saw this at the Cleveland International Film Fest. The director, Shirin Neshat, and her partner and co-director, Shoja Azari, were there to answers questions and meet people after the movie. The story is adapted from a novel by Shahrnoush Parsipour. Shoja stated that the movie is about 30% of the book. All three
of these artists are exiled from their native Iran. The film is a great work of art. The way I heard it described I expected it to be various visual images spliced together to convey an artistic meaning. But it has a strong narrative, well defined characters, and the visual flourishes that are present are still tied to reality and moving the story forward.Munis (Toloui) is the first woman we meet. She lives with her brother in 1950's Iran and is interested in social activism. Faezeh (Ferydoni) is her friend. Faezeh at first is content with Iranian traditions, but later comes to seek a new way. Fakhri (Shahrzad) is a more mature woman who is married to a high ranking military man who may potentially be the next prime minister. Her westernized old boyfriend comes back into her life. He has poets, philosophers, artists, and socialists for friends. Fakhri decides to become independent and moves into a house surrounded by an enchanting orchard. Then there is Zarin (Toth), who is a prostitute. Zarin runs away from that life but can't seem to get clean. Zarin wanders a long road to a distant horizon and finally finds the paradise like orchard. Faezeh with the help of Munis (who may be a ghost) also finds her way up the long road to the orchard and Fakhri's house. Munis returns to town to observe and help with the political protests. But Zarin, Faezeh, and Fakhri try to make a new life. I liked the setting of the orchard. The location is used to symbolize both paradise in the daytime with bright colors while the sun streams down and a nightmare at night with shadows darting about and a real sense that you could get lost. The supporting cast is great. Overall an excellent film.
March 21, 2010
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