Most special features on DVDs are enlightening in some way, but this one — the interview with director Jafar Panahi — is really a must-see for insights into how and why the film was made. He says an experience with his daughter inspired the film, and he tells about how it was made in 39 days, his battles with censors, and how the film's outcome, marvellously, really depended on the outcome of the game. So, if you have the chance, check out the interview! It will also give you a glimpse into what a truly fine gentleman and humanitarian Panahi is.
8 comments:
After making my own comment about doing research to fully appreciate a film, I also could have watched the DVD extras before diving into discussion. I'm going to watch this tonight.
Oh, do! They aren't very long, and the director's interview is especially cool.
Can you imagine if someone just gathered a bunch of us in the newsroom, for example, and said we're going to make a movie about this issue and you're all going to act in it even though you've never acted before, and we're going to do most of it in one day? Honestly, can you imagine that? WHat would be the result?
Joel would be the managing director of film convergence.
Sorry. It is an interesting prospect, though!
Do you get the sense that the director has become too famous in Iran to suffer any consequences for his choices? I get the sense he is taking considerable risks, but he's still able to make films.
KC, I am glad I watched the interview and understand now that the song at the end was about Iran pre-revolution, because initially I did mistake it for an example of mindless nationalism.
Making that film in 39 minutes already was impressive, but I hadn't thought through the real-time parameters for the director.
I also want to go back and see the scene where the soldier grabbed the girl; the director said that was a real officer, not an actor.
He seems to work with great equanimity -- counting on the circumstances to favor his script, trusting nonactors, working around censors -- it's really phenomenal the film was made and was as good as it is.
39 days, sweetheart. But still impressive.
Yeah, the national anthem thing is really important. Not speaking the language, I would not have known what they were singing unless I had learned it from Panahi.
It is phenomenal. I got really caught up in thinking, wow, imagine doing this. Getting together a bunch of non-actors and putting something like this together in these circumstances. It was a great experiment, and I think he did a mind-blowingly good job with it. He probably had shit for a budget, too, and some jerk in Hollywood could throw millions and millions of dollars at a project and not come up with something a fraction as important or compelling.
Hehe. A film made in 39 minutes would be revolutionary. I apologize for my proofreading my comments.
Um ... for not proofreading my comments.
Curtailing caffeine isn't working out so well.
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