dashesy Reviews

The Pledge (I) (2001)

Empty Pledge

[9/10 · 23 December 2007]

I just wanted to add a few of my observations. It is the story of a fully dedicated policeman to his job.

The cop was watching the girl all the time as a living bait, he even set up her swing right next to the road maybe to catch his own fish. He is a fisherman and enjoys big fish. There is also a short conversation in TV at some point of movie about how living baits work better. I think, all the cop was thinking was just to keep his promise, not even the life of his stepdaughter mattered to him. He is a perfect cop just like the effigy cop in the last scene (in which he is crazy) showing an empty pledge. He somehow remembers me of the character of the inspector Javert in The Miserables. Jack Nicholson plays astonishingly well in this role, although the story line is a little vague.

Story of a Prostitute (1965)

An artistic contrast of beauty and war!

[10/10 · 26 May 2006]

I was surprised to see only few comments for this movie! I found it a quite amusing and worth watching foreign film. There are some beautiful b/w scenes, and the contrast of love and war that remember me of Eisenstein's master pieces. I am fond of the movies which show some psychotic aspect of human being, and this movie looks so real in depicting a prostitute's mentality, one who has lost her lover before and tries to keep some one for her in this lonely world. As the title suggests, the film is really about Harumi (the prostitute) and the war is another story happening at the background, although the movie is considered as anti-militaristic.

Taste of Cherry (1997)

A work of art, seeking reason to live

[9/10 · 18 December 2005]

It is a work of art, one of those movies that can not be censored because of the content, thus a good point for an Iranian director. Something I like about Kiarostami's work is that the director does not try to cheat you. Even you can sense the presence of camera in some scenes and the reward is the beautiful picture, like walking in a picture gallery hand in hand with your beloved friend. And suddenly a nice picture catches your attention and you feel happy of the time you spend. If you feel lonely or hopeless, Taste of cherry gives you the sensation that at least you are not alone in this feeling. Still it does not impose any view on you, if the life is always merciful and happy or not. You yourself should decide the end of movie, then after watching the film it lives with your unconscious mind. My view is that Badii is looking for a marvel or sign to believe in life. He appeals against the death penalty that he sentenced himself to. If no reason to live he found a reason to die and benefit a needy person.

The Eighth Day (1996)

The film finds its way into the hearts, No matter how hard they are.

[10/10 · 1 October 2005]

If you would like to see a film of different kind, if you feel the Love in your heart, even if you miss the Lord, this film makes you think. Although Georges is mentally handicapped, you can see the ultimate intelligence at the end, when love gives you directions not the brain. I am not emotional, but this film makes you feel the human being. The film is as good as Forrest Gump in my belief. The foreign movies are sometimes more interesting, yet there is not enough advertisement to make them popular. "Rang-e khoda" (The Color of The God) by Majid Majidi is another example of such foreign movies, almost with similar taste.