Kiarostami Re-Poll (i.e. Try Again, ILX)

Voting the same as I did last time

Good new poll. This is probably Close-Up for me. One of the most powerful endings in film history.

Close-Up is great

voted Like Someone in Love. probably not his best, but very underrated imho

Certified Copy annoyed me, so I never went back (or further) to investigate any of his other work. Guess I should try at least one more, huh?

yes!

watching Close-Up made me realize just how unclear my understanding is of the differences between documentary, docudrama and docufiction

I guess it’s a docudrama because it is a re-enactment of events of the past, but in this case all of the people involved in those events actually play themselves! It seemed like there were also elements taking place in real time toward the end? as well as some fictional components

I also thought that the many moments of breaking of the 4th wall were interesting (especially in the courtroom scene) and added another layer.

looking forward to seeing the subsequent Close-Up Long Shot documentary

Yeah, his filmography is very varied. From one of the best children's movies to weird meta mindfucks. And that's just one trilogy!

Iirc correctly the courtroom footage from Close-Up is the real courtroom footage, and then the rest is reenactments. A weird thing I remember about the ending is that the faulty microphone sounds were done in post. It just sounded more real that way.

but in the courtroom scene don't you hear Kiarostami's voice off-camera asking questions? I think it has to be a re-enactment

or maybe not. I guess it brings up the question of when Kiarostami became involved in this story.

I feel like the overall gentle tone of the movie was ultimately the feature that really drew me in

Well, yeah. That's the Iranian justice system for you, I guess :)

This is really good: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1492-close-up-prison-and-escape

thanks Frederik! that really adds to my understanding of it all

Taste of Cherry. One of the most life-affirming movies I've ever seen, one of the best movies about suicide I've ever seen, a movie so still and quiet yet titanic in scope and so universal, with an absolutely brilliant ending. A movie that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

If you look at the four seasons, each season brings fruit. In summer, there's fruit, in autumn, too. Winter brings different fruit and spring, too. No mother can fill her fridge with such a variety of fruit for her children. No mother can do as much for her children as God does for His creatures. You want to refuse all that? You want to give it all up? You want to give up the taste of cherries?

yeah I agree, it was beautiful.

I was thinking how interesting it was that the narrative and even the filmmaking style in Taste of Cherry got completely upended after the eerie midnight scene up in the foothills

It's a fourth voice, a fourth passenger insisting that life is worth living.

Want to vote for Close-up (and probably will) but I do want to re-watch half a dozen of these first and make some kind of considered decision.

I haven't seen a one of those '80s films and don't know how I can.

Where is the Friend’s House is on FilmStruck.

I noticed, but I'm on the el cheapo Filmstruck plan (no Criterion).

I think some of the shorts are on youtube or something? I watched 'Orderly or Disorderly' at one point and it's cute.

Eh. I said fuck it and paid an extra $4.

Probably a better choice :)

'Where Is the Friend's Home' is great, but without having really delved into the eighties films, they do seem smaller in scope than what he did before and after. I don't think it's wrong to say that his career got impacted by the revolution for a while.

I've been looking for a way to see Through the Olive Trees. It's supposed to be one of his most important films but isn't on any streaming or dvd service that I know of, and I don't see any place I can purchase a dvd of it

Close-Up, Taste of Cherry, Shirin, Certified Copy and Like Someone in Love are available on netflix with a dvd subscription, and Close-Up and The Wind Will Carry Us are streaming on Kanopy

it looks like Life, and Nothing More...is available in full on youtube

close up

it looks like Life, and Nothing More...is available in full on youtube

― Dan S, 19. august 2018 21:40 (four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Definitely watch this before Through the Olive Trees, if you manage to find it. Adds a lot to it :)

I saw Shirin on MUBI a several years ago and recommend it but don’t know if there’s an easy way to stream it now.

I saw Through the Olive Trees in its, um, initial US run, i.e., when they showed it for a week and didn’t advertise it or promote it.

time for a mini Kiarostami season within the month, only watched 4 so far and haven't even seen Close Up ffs!

I’m going to do the same. Glad it had a month to go.

Nobody does meta fiction with the same lightness of touch as Kierostami. Could have voted for any of the ones I’ve seen. Christopher Nolan could do with being made to watch all of these.

..and told never to make another motherfucking movie again in his lifetime, if it din't prove an instructive experience, the worthless piece of shit!

Yeah, I have no expectation we can improve Nolan, but I want him to know just how bad he is.

Anyway, I didn’t vote for it but Certified Copy is great, someone needs to say this.

I think I'll begin with "where is the friend's house?" unless anyone knows of anything prior to that that is a must-see.

For Filmstruck (+ Criterion) subscribers, The Report is available as one of the supplements to Certified Copy, not as its own entry so you can't search for it.

Thanks!

I don’t know if it’s a must-see but his second feature length film The Traveler from 1974 is really atmospheric and (I thought) enjoyable. It’s included as a supplement to the Criterion edition of Close-Up. It is also available on youtube. It seems like even early in his career he had a flair for memorable endings

I think Close-Up is where Kiarostami becomes Kiarostami, so you could start there, but then his next two films are semi-sequels to 'Where is the Friends Home' so...

just watched Like Someone in Love. I thought the Tokyo/Yokohama setting was an interesting choice. The film really came into focus for me in the last half hour or so, starting with the visit to the mechanic’s garage, after which it seemed to take on a slightly more sinister edge. As usual with Kiarostami everything was extremely understated and oblique. It didn’t feel it had as much of a meta quality as some of his earlier films, but was just as poetic and beautiful.

I really loved the scene filmed from the taxi circling the train station at night, with the main character furtively watching her grandmother standing beneath a statue, knowing she couldn’t make contact with her.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Yay!

I was the one vote for Shirin. Approve of the overall results.

i have a soft spot for the wind will carry us

I gotta see Where is the Friend's Home?

glad Taste of Cherry placed second & close to Close-Up.

xp also i wrote a student paper on it and it felt like my mind was exploding as i was discovering its representation of space and what editing means for it lol. watching it a million times was definitely formative for me. it basically defined what kinds of movies i want to see.

i'd really love to see taste of cherry in a movie theater some day

me too

I remember reading on here (maybe even itt?) that Kiarostami's brother claimed earlier this year that Criterion is releasing all of Kiarostami's movies in 2019 a la the Bergman box. If that's the case I imagine plenty of retro screenings. Taste of Cherry needs an upgrade anyway.

I voted for Where Is The Friend's House? because it moved me the most, although I only watched three in the month (I had more to watch but had a hard drive failure).

My introduction to this stuff was The White Balloon (which I LOVE) but K only wrote that one.

oh the white balloon is so amazing, that was also a gateway for me.

i think it's up there or maybe even better than close-up. i need to rewatch all of these.

"only wrote"! it's amazing.

has anyone seen Willow and Wind? That looks fantastic as well.

just watched Ten & 10 on Ten

I am in awe of this man

always

Criterion of 24 Frames is out

https://www.criterion.com/films/29399-24-frames

And the Kiarostami section of my Criterion shelf remains complete.

ICYMI nye criterion cartoon sez Koker Trilogy this year

As far as I'm concerned, AK (this one, not that one) should be Criterion's next Bergman-style mega box.

Thread:

Here's a weird little thread about movies and pets. (1/9)

— Bilge Ebiri (@BilgeEbiri) January 9, 2019

xp -- HELL yes, I'd buy that faster than I bought the Bergman

omg Eric, thank for that Bilge Ebiri thread.

I've definitely posted this before (probably itt) but a couple years ago Kiarostami's brother said that the CC would be releasing ALL of Kiarostami's films in 2019. Maybe an exaggeration, or old out of date news, but they've already got 4 announced (the Koker Trilogy hint in the cartoon is pretty obvious). I'd be surprised if they don't also at least upgrade Taste of Cherry, which they put out in ~1999 and desperately needs a remaster.

omg Eric, thank for that Bilge Ebiri thread.

omg that thread is so beautiful. the pictures!

It's almost like cats' brains can't process traditional camera movements and shot lengths and require more static compositions to want to engage with them

Nah must be all that transcendental beauty

That's brilliant, thanks for posting Eric!

damn simon you HATE 24 frames!

Lol I don't really I just irrationally hate that thread

Funny, I pretty rationally hate you

;)

omg how can you hate on that thread. I totally get the movie but dude. dude!! THOSE PICTURES 😢

here we go

https://i.imgur.com/2iFdEwh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yrA1Wyv.jpg

Missing a few big titles there, no?

Looks like an upgrade soon.

pic.twitter.com/lYUafa8GiE

— Janus Films (@janusfilms) February 12, 2019

Release of the year, if so.

Okay, the news came out the other week but Criterion is reviving its Eclipse line with an overview of his early short films:

https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/8309-eclipse-series-47-abbas-kiarostami-early-shorts-and-features