kiakam's Blog

Iranian Cinema

I am a huge fan of Iranian cinema. In the past decade Iranian cinema has become a phenomenon around the world.

Iranian filmmakers are known for their remarkable and brilliant work and have made history in the global film industry. Almost at every major film festival that takes place in the West, Iranian films are recognized and awarded.

They are movies like Willow Tree or Children of heaven that have touched every layer of my soul. These films portray the reality of our lives in the simplest yet most meaningful ways, such as friendship, humility, love and solidarity.

Many of Iranian films reflect political and social struggles people encounter on a daily basis. But mostly these movies pay attention to the human being, human values and the search for God. And since these values are universal, Iranian cinema has been respected globally.

Here are some of my favorite Iranian films:

Baran

Color of Paradise

Willo Tree

Leyla

Two Women

Soul Mate

Children of Heaven

Taste of Cherry

…and many more…

If you are interested in watching any of these movies, check out iranianmovies.com, netflix or even your local blockbuster.

Comments (25)

DRomeo wrote on Mar 05, 07:15 PM

I saw Taste of Cherry about a month ago. It was simple, intelligent, and moving. I thought the ending was bold and imaginative.

I'm really beginning to get into Iranian films.

kiakam wrote on Mar 05, 07:36 PM

unlike Western films most of the Iranian films I have watched do not have a happy ending. Sometimes there is even no beginning and no end...infinite, as we are...

DRomeo wrote on Mar 05, 10:09 PM

Word.

Abbas Kiarostami, in particular, seems unconcerned with many of the narrative assumptions that persist in typical popular film. I will look for more of his work.

RedSeaDancer wrote on Mar 05, 11:02 PM

I have seen a few Iranian films. I truly enjoyed Baran, Soul Mate and the Color of Paradise. From what I have seen and heard about Iranian films...I'm starting to wonder if it's possible for Iranians to make a BAD films.

I definitely plan on checking out the other films you have recommended, Kia. Keep the titles coming, as I always need some form of entertainment, hee hee!

hossein wrote on Mar 06, 05:41 AM

it is possible for us to make bad ones too, of course, but you don't wanna see'em.
what? you think only hollywood could make bad films?! arrogant americans :D ;)

RedSeaDancer wrote on Mar 06, 09:08 AM

Yeah, well I need to be proved different then. I haven't seen a bad film yet or heard of one. Silly man, I know it's not just Americans with bad cinema! Us Arabs, can make some horrible films too, ya know!?!

hossein wrote on Mar 06, 11:29 AM

hmmmmm I know I'm living in your Arab land now, and have lived the rest of my life next to it, pretty much familiar.

by the way you got some very nice compliments lately :D

PersianBazaarcheh wrote on Mar 10, 10:21 PM

Cafe Satareh was a great movie. I can't wait to see more persian flicks.

kiakam wrote on Mar 17, 12:25 AM

I just watched Gabbeh, one of the most beautiful Iranian movies ever made. It is colorful, dreamy, though-provoking and moving. The director has done a fantastic job illustrating the essence of color- the colors of the universe and the colors within us…I loved it.

hossein wrote on Mar 18, 12:52 PM

YUP Gabbeh was a true piece of art.

I watched 'Scream of the Ants (Faryaade Moorcheha)' a couple of nights ago. Makhmalbaaf should have left Iran earlier. That movie rocks! I love it when people just publish their questions when they are full of questions and they don't have any answers. His way of introducing his questions is just artistic. "harki be haghighat bereseh fascist mishe". there were some technical weaknesses in the movie, but in general it was a masterpiece.

Can't wait to see 'Sex and Philosophy'

kiakam wrote on Mar 18, 01:08 PM

Thanks Hossi, I will check that one out, too.

kiakam wrote on Mar 24, 04:57 PM

Here is another great Iranian movie I watched this weekend: Offside

It's witty, it's clever and it is entertaining...

hossein wrote on Mar 27, 04:37 AM

I haven't got the chance to see it yet King. It's on theaters in Dubai now. I'm planning to go soon.

kiakam wrote on Mar 27, 12:56 PM

Yeah, me too, Cy...it ill be out on DVD soon. I look forward to watching it :)

hossein wrote on Mar 28, 01:49 AM

take it easy dude. the reason is simple. it's not just the Iranian cinema, it's the Iranian everything. our culture, our faith (shiaa). we make shiaa, out of tragic disasters and death's, and then we make a tragic theatre like 'Marge Yazdgerd' (written by a Bahaii of course but doesn't matter. I've seen Bahaii's swearing to 'Hazrate Abbas' and 'Imam Hossein' too).
we always need something to mourn, like our survival depends on it. I mean what is Iran and what is Shiaa without all the tragic death stories?
and if nothing happens in real life for us to mourn, we create it. well that's why art is there!
it's us and our 'ashurayi' culture. we are so extremist in our romanticism!

hossein wrote on Mar 28, 03:39 AM

it's ok King.
it was a true joke anyway...

kiakam wrote on Mar 28, 01:04 PM

Actually, what I mostly like about Iranian cinema is that there is no emphasis on a happy ending... afterall life is real. What I truly appriciate in most Iranian films I have seen thus far, are the multidimensional life- and social issues that are touched...

Hossi, I agree with you, we Iranians do tend to dramatize everything...it is evident in our language, literature, history, interactions, etc...

We say " ghorbanet" in every sentence... how would you explain that to others?

hossein wrote on Mar 28, 02:11 PM

"i'd die for you" ...my ass!

lol

ghorbanet!

read this if you can read farsi, it's so meaningful!

kiakam wrote on Mar 30, 07:20 PM

lol! how cute! did you write this Hossi...?

hossein wrote on Mar 31, 04:37 AM

no I didn't,

It's a true love letter from a Shayan to a Parissa!

it is cute of course, but you see how it ends...so tragic! dramatized by birth as you said in your previous comment

kiakam wrote on Apr 04, 11:48 AM

akhey...bemiram barash...lol...

hossein wrote on Apr 15, 12:52 PM

you are improving cy!

samanism wrote on May 01, 06:57 PM

I just spent a bunch of days in NY during the Tribeca Film fest and here's a doc I highly recommend everyone to see. Ready? "Man on Wire" ... fantastic film. Don't miss it if you care about seeing something fresh and artistic. It's one of the best docs I've seen in my entire life. I shiz you not.

kiakam wrote on May 19, 01:28 PM

I just watched another great film by Abbas Kiarostami: " Ten". The director does a brilliant job - again- without much material fancy... I liked it a lot.

princesstamtam wrote on May 31, 10:15 PM

"Daughters of the sun"

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 05, 04:29 PM and tagged with films, iranian cinema. It has been viewed 274 times and received 25 comments. 1 members have it in their favorites

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kiakam's Blog

Iranian Cinema

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