Yek boos-e koochooloo

It had its moments but it wasn't engaging at all...

This film was one of the most amazing films I have ever seen. I have always been a fan of Persian movies and this is my favorite. The concept is so brilliant and novel! It's one of the most original movie I've seen in a long time. I was amazed by the theme of the movie! The performances were excellent and the screenplay is gripping. That actress who played the mysterious woman! She is so hot! I heard that she won the Persian best actress award the following year! The setting is also beautiful. It takes place in Isfahan and we are given beautiful glimpses of the city and rural areas. 'Yek boos-e koochooloo' is about Life and Death! I'm only surprised that it's not been recognized worldwide. The movie deals with the appreciation of life and how important it is to make the best of it and spend time with loved ones and appreciate its goodness. In a way the movie sort of follows a certain style without special effects but that works very well as it gives an authentic quality.

This is a very deep and meaningful movie that everybody must watch, whether they like it or not!

Nominally this is about two Iranian writers reuniting after a 38 years separation. More pointedly it is about aging, recollecting past events, coming to grips with the consequences of paths taken in life, and dealing with the prospect of impending incapacitation and death. Through a blend of reality, literary imagination and fantasy, the film tells a multi-faceted, nicely interwoven story. One of its facet is an inner story with a possible allegorical meaning that unfortunately escaped me.

One of the final scenes is beautiful counterpointed: (1) the literary work as an object transcending the life of its author and, in contrast, (2) how a work-in-progress can be indifferently and irrevocably interrupted by death.

The last scene mirrors the beginning but unfortunately no subtitles are given. Whether the Arabic scribbles are important or not, others will have to say.

The two main actors give fine performances. The dialogues are natural. The footage of northern Iran shows how beautiful that part of the country is.

The operant suggestion: don't miss this film.

This character-based, symbolically-heavy, mesh of reality and fiction explores Death with the eye of wisdom and the fear of old men close to the grave. The dialogue is mostly deep, funny, meaningful & clever. The story & script are well constructed although the exploration of death & friendship are better done that the backdrop themes of family & country.

The writer/director Bahman Farmanara as well as the lead actor Reza Kianian were of attendance to present this well-received film. Both showed considerable skill into making this picture rise above in both content & presentation. The acting of the two old writer friends reunited after 38 years is of high caliber and comes across the screen effortlessly, efficiently, passively, powerfully. This is an actor film, yet this is also undeniably a writer's film with a palpable, reasonable vision of death. The directing and editing (both visual & sound) are the last crucial element in mixing story lines and giving interesting parallels that flow narratively. This was done remarkably well and added to the overall feel of mystery and anticipation/dread of the film.

The story's ending did not seem to quite fulfill the tall order this strong film had set itself up to accomplish, yet it is not a mishit and does not take away anything from the better part of the film, only it does not add much either. It is a denouement that unfolds without quite inspiring and without the impact and potency of earlier dialogues. It unwinds from the intense elusive intriguing high point and descends to the more mundane. A resolutionless departure would have made this much better in my eyes. The only thing that seemed to potentially redeem the end is the final shot of the movie.

Nonetheless, the charisma of the actors and of the film itself is worth seeking this one out. The multi-level message, the real-life reflections, the delicious humour, the search for meaning, the seeking of oneself, the transient understanding, the self-worth, the acceptance of fate & death, are all reasons why this movie will reach you one way or the other.

Complex. Creative. A thoughtful film.

Film: YEK BOUS-E KOUCHOULOU, 2006 / 35 mm / Color / 100 min, Director: Bahman Farmanara, Country: Iran, Schedule: 28 August 2006 • 19:00 • THÉATRE MAISONNEUVE • TM.28.1 •