Sokout (Silence) by Makhmalbaf

(Another 10/10 movie by Mohsen Makhmalbaf...will surely write a review soon...this is the current draft under preparation)

This is my introductory movie in Iranian films..I was stunned! I got interested in Makhmalbad when I read some of his writings about originality in movies. He compared Indian directory Ray with other western directors and explained how Ray demonstrated very original views of Asian countries. I never thought of people viewing Ray's film in that dimension. Makhmalbaf started with "Pather Panchaali", how that touched him. Before this review I also read another review of "Pather Paanchaali" by someother modern western critic that these kind of movies are too narrow in thinking, too confied to a small place, doesn't have appeal for modern western audience. But Makhmalbaf explained in a very different language the insight of "Pather Panchali". I was stunned! So, I decided I must checkout movies of this director.

I got the chance in Sundance film festival video store in SaltLake City where they had a collection of Makhmalbaf. Got these two movies: Silence and Gabbeh. There were other movies too, but I liked these two a lot.

I still remember the sound: "Khorshid" , "Khorshid"..that little girl with colors, the friend of khorshid wanted him to tune perfectly the musical instruments. But Khorshid wasn't just a technician, he was an artist who looks for sound..Beautiful sound, sound of different frequency catches his ears..he forgets his way..Khorshid follows the sound! Khorshid follows the way of sound! The story follows next.

Its all about Khorshid, his search for sound, the beautiful colorful girl, her love for music, music of Iranian countries...his blindness was very important since otherwise he couldn't have followed sound and music so carefully...

Phörpa

Enemies are endless; so give up hatred!!

Phorpa is a simple and beautiful movie..it deserves more star than it got. This simple movie does not contain any gimmick, car chasing, fighting, evil spirit, hero-anti hero ( the conventional movie subjects ), but contains feelings expressed by very common people ( who are also political victim and list their country ). Its superb direction, since there was enough reason to show battles between countries, hatred among people and religion..but nothing was shown...in stead , it says: "Give up hatred, since you can't win over all the enemies..enemies are endless"..What a message!!! I hope the audience gets the above message since it comes directly from the sufferers who has lost their own country, yet you don't hear much against anything! This carefully drawn story teaches us lot while its objective was not teaching... Its superb, its terrific..gets a 10 out of 10 rating!

Nuit et jour

Joseph the poet! Julie the lover! Jack .....,

I have seen this movie so many times that I remember the scenes and conversation even after many years...yes, I liked it that much..its another 10/10 movie in my list. Its a beautiful poetry of love affair between Julie, Jack and Joseph.Joseph is truly a poet. Everything he says is a line of poetry. In fact, they should publish that as a work of poetry! Joesph came late in Julie's life. So what? Joseph doesn't believe in coming late is a sin. Joseph is ready to experiment with this triangle affair in a new dimension. He wants Julie to inform Jack about this relationship.This breaks the conventional thinking about being honest in love affair, being able to love both at the same time without hesitation. However, its hard to continue this affair in a society dictated by moral value of ours.Joesph is the character I like most when he says: "I love when streets are crowded. I love when its empty"..Joseph is a true lover of life, ambitious, confident! Jack on the other side looks sad, reads books, senses something wrong. Julie is the most interesting character and discovery of a new type: she is complex. Her smile makes you think about this moment of life; she loves to enjoy it, every moment of it. In fact, Joseph and Julie makes a perfect couple, I feel sorry for Jack though!

Nostalghia

Tarkovsky's Nostalghia is always in my wishlist to see again and again. Usage of still shots, slow moving camera, fog, pictures...All these made me so focused that I forgot the story line first time I saw it. Then I read reviews of other people, some were very disappointed/angry and some were upset that such a film is made. However, its truly an amazing move and one has the feeling at the end that I must see it again! Then I will get the story. There is not much story there though!
In the begining, I had a doubt on this approach: keeping the storyline confusing to audience! Is that one should do? Isn't simplicity the best way to reach people. But now I have changed my mind. Director has all the right to say things the way (s)he wants to say; if it doesn't reach the mass, so what? One may make movies just because he enjoys doing that...enjoys the experiment...people will see it only if they like...this sounds reasonable to me.
(anyway, it seems to me people like to watch movies about telling stories of repeatative nature e.g. good always wins at the end, happy ending, some formula elements like love story, wars, dance, car chasing, ...)

Mediterraneo by Gabriele Salvatores

10/10 in my list of movies. Movie begins with a team of Italian soldiers left in an apparently empty island; there weren't many people in that island and they weren't well connected with the civilization. Away from civilization, but happy, enjoyed the time: kind of escapist idea carried in the movie, but I liked it. This is probably the first time I liked a movie with a 10/10 rating based on escapism.
Many of the soldiers didn't want to return to civilization, they were happy, so was I...That they didn't feel the urge to return to civilization. But when they really returned things were different, political situation has changed! That's the interesting part in the movie; they probably wanted to go back to their escapist shelter!

Le Battement d'ailes du papillon: Amelie 2

Haven't seen it yet...
Its in my wishlist since its a movie similar to Run Lola, Run and its in French!

Will write then or remove it from here..drop a comment if u have seen this!

Smultronstället (Wild Strwaberries) : Bergman movie

wonderful!

loneliness, the isolation of a human being (Prof. Borg) on the verge of receiving a honorary degree from a reputed university is analyzed here with a sense of pessimism. My favourtie quote from this movie:

"In our relations with others we mainly criticize them"..
Prof. Borg in a Bergman movie "Wild Strawberries"

We mainly criticize others, that's why prof. Borg stayed away from people. But that made his life very isolated, disconnected from other people....

more later...

Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain: Amelie

10/10....
more later..