Seventy Thirty

Recently watched the Iranian film Haftad Si (Seventy Thirty), and honestly, it left me feeling very neutral. It wasn't good enough to rave about, but it also wasn't terrible enough to completely trash. It sat somewhere in the middle-though, to be fair, by the second half, I did find myself muttering, "What am I even watching?" more than once.

Let's start with the positives. One thing I appreciated was that the storyline felt somewhat fresh. It wasn't a typical copy-paste plot that you see so often in Iranian cinema these days. Also, the film didn't overly rely on sexual humor-a trend that's become all too common and often lazy. There were some jokes, but they were more restrained, which I found refreshing.

That said, Haftad Si definitely had its shortcomings. For one, the events in the film didn't seem to connect well with each other. Scenes felt random, and the transitions between them were awkward or lacking any logical progression. It gave the impression that the movie was unsure of what it wanted to be-drama, comedy, social commentary? It tried to juggle too many things and dropped the ball on most of them.

Additionally, a lot of the jokes felt outdated-things we've heard countless times before and that no longer land well with modern audiences. On top of that, there were a few characters who felt completely unnecessary to the story. They didn't contribute much, and their presence only diluted the film's already fragile narrative.

To sum it up: I didn't really enjoy the film and wouldn't recommend it to others. While it wasn't a disaster, it certainly didn't leave a lasting impression either. I'd give it a 4 out of 10.

Let's hope the next one offers more substance and cohesion.

I had high hopes for this movie because two of the best actors, Hoten Shakiba and Bahram Afshari, were in it and Bahram Afshari is directing it. But as soon as I found out that the producer is Amirian and the writer is a talentless person like Hamza Salehi, I doubted the quality of this movie and the story started when I saw it. This movie was a disaster and it didn't have anything else except the acting of the main roles, like the script which does not follow a new topic at all.

Directing is not a bad experience for the first, but the director's acting in this film is weaker and more repetitive than his previous works, there is no music in this film except for a few moments where old and repetitive songs are played. This movie tries to be a tragicomedy or a dark comedy, but it doesn't look like either and it's more like a bland theater than a movie. Except for the main characters, none of the characters in the film (who have great potential in creating comedy) It is not paid and we are only watching a show of these two comedians This film likes to be a criticism of the country's economic situation, but it is mostly an insult to the poor and slum dwellers I knew that the Amirian film company only wants to exploit the fame of these comedians in order to reach the top of the Iranian cinema box office again with a long-term release. I strongly do not recommend this movie and if you are looking for a comedy, there are definitely better options.

"Haftad Si" (Seventy Thirty), despite its massive box office success and warm audience reception, has received mixed reviews from critics. The film starts strong with engaging comedic moments and decent performances, especially from Bahram Afshari and Hootan Shakiba, who use regional accents to great effect. However, as the story progresses, it suffers from a weak script and underdeveloped characters.

The overuse of local dialects for humor and the inclusion of too many side plots dilute the main storyline, making it feel stretched and inconsistent. While the film offers some entertaining moments and a visually appealing setting, it lacks the narrative depth and originality expected from a standout comedy.

If you're looking for a lighthearted, family-friendly film with some laughs, "Haftad Si" might be worth a watch. But don't expect a groundbreaking or critically acclaimed cinematic experience.

Bahram Afshari did not start ambitiously in his first experience. He tried to make his mark in cinema, use familiar methods, faces, and jokes, and with its good sales and satisfying the audience, he can take the next steps more firmly. Therefore, do not expect an innovative or different comedy from this film. But rest assured that you are dealing with a film that does not lack for its audience. If it is stuck, it has a script, it has good beats, if its story is stuck somewhere, the atmosphere will help it, if the character is in a hurry, the consistent acting will save it. All of this means that Bahram Afshari, in combination with the production team of Amarian Film, has created a golden combination, and this treasure should be used now and then.