The second in the Koker trilogy. While there is not an absolute demand to watch the first, "Where is the Friend's House," it certainly helps. And perhaps less so for any plot points, but to help feel for the village that gets crushed during an actual earthquake.
On and also to see the zigzag path on the hillside. As a side note it was pretty interesting to hear Kiarostami mention that path was a fabrication by him alone, that it served no real purpose. However it was a path that led him to many people and places.
The movie does feature two Kiarastomi staples. First the importance of roads in his film (I think there is a documentary about that, right?). And the second is how "real" life cannot help but bleed into his "reel" life. Especially the presence of movies within movies - while "Shirin" is not for everyone I think about that movie often.
Anyways, here the odyssey is a simple and honest one, and as I get older the idea of being able to embrace the good with the bad simultaneously is clearly more and more important, but no less simple to do so.
The young married couple were a highlight, and also Pouya sort of exploring the ruins of the village. I do think children have an ability to exist and retain their playful wonder despite the most dire surroundings. Not from this film of course, but I vaguely recall a photo of a Palestinian little girl playing in a courtyard as tanks loom just outside the walls.
Kiarostami may offer sport as spectacle for children of all ages to help with that sort of life-saving distraction. I'm honestly not too sure if that's too simple a take. I don't speak Farsi, and I am a pretty committed agnostic, but I did wonder if really the faith of those filmed was a bigger factor than futbol.
I look forward to completing my visit to Kiaratomi's Koker soon.
On and also to see the zigzag path on the hillside. As a side note it was pretty interesting to hear Kiarostami mention that path was a fabrication by him alone, that it served no real purpose. However it was a path that led him to many people and places.
The movie does feature two Kiarastomi staples. First the importance of roads in his film (I think there is a documentary about that, right?). And the second is how "real" life cannot help but bleed into his "reel" life. Especially the presence of movies within movies - while "Shirin" is not for everyone I think about that movie often.
Anyways, here the odyssey is a simple and honest one, and as I get older the idea of being able to embrace the good with the bad simultaneously is clearly more and more important, but no less simple to do so.
The young married couple were a highlight, and also Pouya sort of exploring the ruins of the village. I do think children have an ability to exist and retain their playful wonder despite the most dire surroundings. Not from this film of course, but I vaguely recall a photo of a Palestinian little girl playing in a courtyard as tanks loom just outside the walls.
Kiarostami may offer sport as spectacle for children of all ages to help with that sort of life-saving distraction. I'm honestly not too sure if that's too simple a take. I don't speak Farsi, and I am a pretty committed agnostic, but I did wonder if really the faith of those filmed was a bigger factor than futbol.
I look forward to completing my visit to Kiaratomi's Koker soon.