Crimson Gold

Crimson Gold, one of the best films of the year, is absolutely stunning from start to finish. It's gritty and captures the essence of the social struggles in Iran while consistently delivering messages on the struggles we all face in life regarding love and relationships. It's a humanistic film that is extremely subtle, which turned off several viewers (as does Taxi Driver, one of my all-time favorites). Jafar Panahi's slow pacing doesn't allow the film to go into incoherent territory, but again, some viewers may be turned off by this. The pacing is really what allows the messages to set in and provoke the viewers thoughts. It's worth every second of your time, don't miss this gem.

9/10

It's positively amazing what you can sometimes get with non-professional actors, basically playing themselves, especially compared to the many times that real actors flub things entirely. This film follows the sad trajectory of a disaffected pizza delivery driver in Tehran, but while his journey is rooted in reality and presented, aside from the cuts from one scene to another, in something much like real time including all the boring waiting periods (and without the comforting style of similar scenes in Chinatown), the story itself is almost fantastical, probably in part because the people Hussein meets are, to no small degree, more symbolic than anything. The story is heartbreaking and the visuals held my interest without being flashy in the least. Most interestingly, director Jafar Panahi provides us with a removed, rational view of modern Iranian society even as he shows his considerable skill in unobtrusively guiding us along with one man's unfortunate journey.

Written by the most prominent figure in Iranian social realist cinema, Talaye Sorkh is very much suggestive of some social realities in contemporary Iran. Following an underclass pizza-delivery man for a day or two of his life, Panahi's camera pictures a story that speaks only not for Hussein, but also for many of his real-life fellow citizens in Tehran. Although the film appears to be highly critical of the current social gap between the rich and the poor, Talaye Sorkh is more about alienation and marginalization. Hussein is a war veteran who is devastated by the contradictions of the values he fought for in the Iran-Iraq war and what he witnesses in the affluent neighborhoods of northern Tehran, where he delivers pizzas. He is shocked to see a former lieutenant in one of those chic houses. Thanks to Hussein Emaduddin's great performance, the film by no means begs for sympathy. It seems that the tensions of the society in which Hussein lives, has made him an emotionless man. Hussein's toneless attitude and his unusual calmness speaks of a man whose tolerance comes to a rapid explosion at the end. He is a sort of man who is unable to even feel for his fiancé. Robbing young women's purse doesn't seem to interest him either. Throughout the entire film he is in a state of shock. Although the film's plot is based on a true story, its dialog seem a bit incompetent and weak at times. The dolly shots and the overall camera-work however perfectly contributes in suggesting a schizophrenic atmosphere which has indeed been the intention of Panahi as well. Panahi's latest film is very much similar in theme with his previous award winning Dayareh. That film is also recommended for those who enjoyed this one.

"He motorbikes every evening to neighborhoods he will never live in, for a closer look at what goes on behind closed doors. But one Night, Hussain tastes the luxurious life, before his deep feelings of humiliation push him over the edge."

It's sad to see reviews - saying this is a boring movie... This movie is so good, that I totally forgot about WATCH or even Time. Hussain is one of the most interesting characters I have ever seen... and with no doubt Jafar Panahi with his 'The Circle' and 'Crimson Gold' one of the most talented directors of our time...

thx for this movie... I really enjoyed watching it on Tbilisi International Film Festival (just today)and I hope the movie gets the main prize...

Hussain was a metaphor for the people of Iran. The somnambulent, drugged out pizza deliveryman who was once thought of as heroic, now relegated to menial labor -- with only a small hint of what his life was like "before." The glimpses life in Teheran alone make this film intriguing and important viewing. This film was the source of much lively discussion at dinner afterwards. It was a revelation to most of us that not only were pizzas delivered in Teheran, but people could be arrested simply for attending parties in private apartments. It was also a revelation to most of us that luxurious jewelry stores operated in Iran, with Italian crafted jewelry, and the clientele to support them. Not to mention the luxurious, swimming pool equipped penthouse in the final scenes.