Santouri

Every now and then an Iranian film comes around that is moving, conveys a message like no other. Director, Mehrjui does a great job creating an atmosphere where one truly feels society's issues in regards to drug addiction. There has been a stereotype for some time now that young Iranians in the music industry are prone to becoming submerged in a world of drugs, alcohol and womanizing habits. Although this is a false stereotype, Mehrjui does a great job telling a story of Ali Santoori, a man, whose traditional family turns his back on him and tells him to choose between his "santoor" instrument and his family. Ali of course, chooses, his instrument, and successfully becomes Iran's top pop performer. Meanwhile, he also meets and marries a wonderful young woman, Hanieh (Farahani), and his life seems to be on a great track. But as the story goes, Ali, becomes depressed and gets more and more addicted to drugs due to the government cracking down on his music.

Both Bahram Radan (Ali Santoori character) and Golshifteh Farahani give magnificent performances. Mehrjui style of telling the story is first-rate, using great shots, flashbacks, and flawless incorporation of music. The music cooperation between composer Ardavan Kamkar, a traditional santoor player, and composer, and MOhsen Chavoshi, top pop singer, is innovative, new and very well suited. Overall, this film achieves on every level, as it carries the audience through every range of emotion its characters feel, something Iranian films rarely do. Quite possibly the best Iranian film I have ever seen. 10/10

I watched this movie recently, it was truly one of the best Persian movies I ever watched. I like the way it shows young loves, when you are young and deeply in love and you will do crazy things and these all are just fine, but nothing good last forever and when hard situations comes and it seems like nobody believes in you and what you do in your life, you just doubt yourself and by that you will lose everything.

this movie shows how things can get hard when you are young and immature and you've got different ideas, interests and goals than others. how things can get hard when there's nobody to support you but love of your life. but if you don't do carefully you can lose her/him too.

plus this actually shows Iran Society and young Iranian people's problems. such a shame to say there are a lot of people like Ali in Iran, losing all they got and dying in loneliness.

With Santoori, the famed Iranian director, Dariush Mehrjui has achieved the rare distinction of having had films banned in Iran both before and after the 1979 revolution (Dayereh Mina, AKA The Cycle and Santoori respectively). Both films share similar traits in that they try to show some aspects of the Iranian society that authorities would rather keep hidden: drug addiction and corruption in The Cycle and drug addiction and treatment of musicians in Iran in Santoori.

Ali Santoori is a musician (playing the Persian instrument Santoor), disowned by his wealthy family for having chosen music as a career, refused a license by the authorities to record and reduced to playing at private parties to earn a living. These hardships have forced him to drug addiction and affected Ali's relationship with his wife. Along the way, the movie makes strong statements about the life of the young, and specially artists and musicians, in Iran.

Santoori has all the usual Mehrjui hallmarks: strong characterization, rich and naturalistic dialogue and lack of stereotypes, even in the minor characters. This is best demonstrated in a scene where Ali visits his parents.

Santoori presents the juiciest role for a lead actor in Mehrjui films since Hamoon. Bahram Radan has risen to the occasion and gives an award worthy performance. He is well matched by Golshifteh Farahani as his suffering wife. Casting, as in all Mehrjui films, is near perfect. Another notable plus is the music and the songs which perfectly fit the scenes.

this film show really how is life in Iran full of sad full of way for be Addict and no way for fun and sport.shame of me this is my home town.in the park.every where you can think about it you can simply find H or everything you want or find Addict.then you can feel well this place.this film is only film i feel can show really life just has a little problem.OK i just must say maybe this film only for us(Iranian) be good and someone in out of Iran see this say its so bad for example some France people when see this actually don't interesting this cause this film just wanna say pain of Iranian. in the end of i wanna proposal every one in everywhere please see this movie and find out Iranian people have not really fault for have life like this

Despite being born and raised in Iran till age 12, I hate watching Iranian movies. However, The Music Man, is by far among one of my all time favorite movies both for the great story and flawless analysis on the messed up society in Iran. Don't get me wrong, I do not hate the government or anyone who is in power. I hate how people are taking advantage of the weak and unorganized rules. P.S. The sound tracks used are AMAZING.