A few picks from Iranian Cinema
Only a few film recommendations from Iranian cinema that will captivate you
With its beautiful art, from cinema to literature, Iran has always fascinated me. Especially as someone who loves reading Forugh Farrokhzad’s poems, I find something really touching in Persian literature. Her lines transcend and allow me to feel her emotions. Yet, it is not my intent to write about Forugh Farrokhzad’s beautiful and inspiring works. Today I would like to list, though without giving many details, only a really small segment of the exquisite Iranian cinema for the eyes that wants to see.
The White Balloon (Badkonake Sefid)
The White Balloon is a 1995 film directed by Jafar Panahi and written by Abbas Kiarostami. The story revolves around a innocent seven-year-old girl and reminds us the importance of human interaction, empathy, and childhood- things we haven’t seen in a while.
The Wind Will Carry Us(Bād mā rā khāhad bord)
Abbas Kiarostami’s 1999 film, which was inspired by Forugh Farrokhzad’s poem with the same title, can be classified as the Post-Revolutionary Iranian New Wave Cinema. Kiarostami’s style aligns with poetic cinema, questioning concepts such as death, waiting, and life.
The Song of the Sparrows (Avaze Gonjeshk-ha)
Directed by Majid Majidi in 2008, The Song of the sparrows is a beautiful film that captures the hardships of rural and city life, focusing on the human spirit, poverty, and hope.
Children of heaven(Bacheha-ye aseman)
A 1997 film by Majid Majidi portrays childhood and poverty through simple but emotional storytelling. It explores themes of love, sacrifice, and childhood through beautiful and heart-warming moments
Taste of Cherry(Ta'm e guilass)
Like a delicate and fleeting memory, Abbas Kiarostami’s 1997 film, Taste of Cherry takes you on a journey through the dusty outskirts of Tehran in which you question the fragile line between life and death.