Ein kleines Stück vom Kuchen

The adage "it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" is well-known, but what about people who have the courage to fall in love again? For a 70-year-old Iranian widow, it's a desperate attempt to feel alive again, but it's a bold move for anyone. That is the idea behind a sweet Iranian love comedy that is infused with surprising radicalism.

Mahin (played by the charming Lili Farhadpour) spends her days doing the same things: sleeping in till midday, rushing to answer FaceTime calls from her daughter who lives abroad, taking care of her garden, and visiting the less-than-local market from her home on the outskirts of Tehran. Each scene is portrayed as a nicely framed vignette by co-directors Maryam Moqadam and Behtash Sanaeeha, despite the setting's banality.

Keep an eye on it-words cannot help it. In a society where everyone is scrutinised and evaluated, genuine love endures forever, and it's simple to find if you look for it! This charming story serves as a reminder.

As an Iranian in exile, I watched this film with mixed emotions-laughing throughout but also with a lump in my throat. The film is beautifully crafted, filled with beautiful details that bring the story to life. It offers a powerful portrayal of life in a society where love, joy, and even laughter are suppressed. What makes this film stand out, even more, is its unique focus: for once, the protagonist and the central love story are between two older individuals, a refreshing narrative in cinema.

Even if you're not Iranian, you'll appreciate the universal themes of love, resilience, and the human spirit. It allows viewers to reflect on the quiet but enduring resistance people face in the face of repression, making it a story that resonates beyond cultural boundaries. It evokes both joy and sorrow at the same time.

"Mahin" (Lili Farhadpour) is a lonely, widowed, retired nurse who has lived by herself for many years, when she happens to overhear a conversation in the government run pensioner's cafe that points out that taxi driver "Faramarz" (Esmaeel Mehrabi) is also single. She quite quickly determines to track him down and next thing she is in his cab. It's not like she's a cougar nor he a womaniser - they are just two older people who click at the idea of something a bit "extra" at the end of their rain soaked day. The largest bottle of wine you've ever seen is duly produced and, well you can guess what's on the cards. Except? Well you can also guess that things are not going to go to plan either - and we are given a few subtle clues along the way to manage our expectations as this really quite entertainingly mischievous story develops. Farhadpour is really engaging as she charms her new beau and there's a lovely, soft, chemistry between the two as most of the plot unfolds in her house as they take care not to involve the dreaded morality police who might arrive and punish them - even at their advanced age - for being alone in her home together! Indeed, what also helps this work is the gentle way in which it makes some pretty hefty points. About age, assumptions about age - true, but it also takes a broader look at a society that still treats women as less free citizens thanks their testicled counterparts. Most of all thought it's really quite funny and delivers us a message of confidence, shyness, optimism and hope tempered with some dark humour - especially at the end. I'm not quite sure she could have baked the cake in quite the timeline offered, but it did look tasty!

I'm yet to see a larger-than-life Iranian film where characters defy physics, logic, and emotions-here's another sweet little gem to add to that list. This is a story of two 70-year-olds finding love one fine evening, sharing life's little details and cherishing its little moments along the way. We meet Mahin (an absolutely adorable Lili Farhadpour) as she goes about her day, understanding more about her through the slice-of-life interactions she has with the people around. Faramarz (Esmaeel Mehrabi, playing the tender counterpart to perfection) enters her life as randomly as it can get, and this leads to interesting conversations, wine, and merry-making. A late (and expected) swerve only reminds you of how happy moments don't last forever, but neither do the sad ones. Also, when all this plays out in a country that's big on moral policing, how can you not smile first (and sigh later)?

The movie had such an innocent vibe, but what it was trying to say really hit hard. Normally, I don't get emotional about old people, but just the fact that the main character was old was enough to make me feel sad. Maybe it's because of the actress's performance too; there was this pure loneliness in her eyes. I found myself really touched by the film.

The cinematography was beautiful too. I really liked the warm tones, the way the house was decorated, and how the garden was lit. Everything just fit so well. The moments between the two main characters, like when they danced and took selfies, were really sweet and tender. The ending hit harder this way, but a part of me still wishes movies like this would be a bit more clear with their message at the end.