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.
