Good new poll. This is probably Close-Up for me. One of the most powerful endings in film history.
― Frederik B, Sunday, 19 August 2018 16:32 (five years ago) link
Close-Up is great
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 16:45 (five years ago) link
voted Like Someone in Love. probably not his best, but very underrated imho
― groovemaaan, Sunday, 19 August 2018 17:07 (five years ago) link
Certified Copy annoyed me, so I never went back (or further) to investigate any of his other work. Guess I should try at least one more, huh?
― Police, Academy (cryptosicko), Sunday, 19 August 2018 17:43 (five years ago) link
yes!
watching Close-Up made me realize just how unclear my understanding is of the differences between documentary, docudrama and docufiction
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 17:51 (five years ago) link
I guess it’s a docudrama because it is a re-enactment of events of the past, but in this case all of the people involved in those events actually play themselves! It seemed like there were also elements taking place in real time toward the end? as well as some fictional components
I also thought that the many moments of breaking of the 4th wall were interesting (especially in the courtroom scene) and added another layer.
looking forward to seeing the subsequent Close-Up Long Shot documentary
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 17:53 (five years ago) link
Yeah, his filmography is very varied. From one of the best children's movies to weird meta mindfucks. And that's just one trilogy!
― Frederik B, Sunday, 19 August 2018 17:53 (five years ago) link
Iirc correctly the courtroom footage from Close-Up is the real courtroom footage, and then the rest is reenactments. A weird thing I remember about the ending is that the faulty microphone sounds were done in post. It just sounded more real that way.
― Frederik B, Sunday, 19 August 2018 17:54 (five years ago) link
but in the courtroom scene don't you hear Kiarostami's voice off-camera asking questions? I think it has to be a re-enactment
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 17:58 (five years ago) link
or maybe not. I guess it brings up the question of when Kiarostami became involved in this story.
I feel like the overall gentle tone of the movie was ultimately the feature that really drew me in
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:03 (five years ago) link
Well, yeah. That's the Iranian justice system for you, I guess :)
― Frederik B, Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:04 (five years ago) link
This is really good: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1492-close-up-prison-and-escape
― Frederik B, Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:11 (five years ago) link
thanks Frederik! that really adds to my understanding of it all
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:17 (five years ago) link
Taste of Cherry. One of the most life-affirming movies I've ever seen, one of the best movies about suicide I've ever seen, a movie so still and quiet yet titanic in scope and so universal, with an absolutely brilliant ending. A movie that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
If you look at the four seasons, each season brings fruit. In summer, there's fruit, in autumn, too. Winter brings different fruit and spring, too. No mother can fill her fridge with such a variety of fruit for her children. No mother can do as much for her children as God does for His creatures. You want to refuse all that? You want to give it all up? You want to give up the taste of cherries?
― flappy bird, Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:36 (five years ago) link
yeah I agree, it was beautiful.
I was thinking how interesting it was that the narrative and even the filmmaking style in Taste of Cherry got completely upended after the eerie midnight scene up in the foothills
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:41 (five years ago) link
It's a fourth voice, a fourth passenger insisting that life is worth living.
― flappy bird, Sunday, 19 August 2018 18:54 (five years ago) link
Want to vote for Close-up (and probably will) but I do want to re-watch half a dozen of these first and make some kind of considered decision.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:03 (five years ago) link
I haven't seen a one of those '80s films and don't know how I can.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:07 (five years ago) link
Where is the Friend’s House is on FilmStruck.
― Blecch, where is thy Zing? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:14 (five years ago) link
I noticed, but I'm on the el cheapo Filmstruck plan (no Criterion).
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:18 (five years ago) link
I think some of the shorts are on youtube or something? I watched 'Orderly or Disorderly' at one point and it's cute.
― Frederik B, Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:28 (five years ago) link
Eh. I said fuck it and paid an extra $4.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:30 (five years ago) link
Probably a better choice :)
'Where Is the Friend's Home' is great, but without having really delved into the eighties films, they do seem smaller in scope than what he did before and after. I don't think it's wrong to say that his career got impacted by the revolution for a while.
― Frederik B, Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:32 (five years ago) link
I've been looking for a way to see Through the Olive Trees. It's supposed to be one of his most important films but isn't on any streaming or dvd service that I know of, and I don't see any place I can purchase a dvd of it
Close-Up, Taste of Cherry, Shirin, Certified Copy and Like Someone in Love are available on netflix with a dvd subscription, and Close-Up and The Wind Will Carry Us are streaming on Kanopy
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:36 (five years ago) link
it looks like Life, and Nothing More...is available in full on youtube
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:40 (five years ago) link
close up
― the late great, Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:41 (five years ago) link
― Dan S, 19. august 2018 21:40 (four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Definitely watch this before Through the Olive Trees, if you manage to find it. Adds a lot to it :)
― Frederik B, Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:45 (five years ago) link
I saw Shirin on MUBI a several years ago and recommend it but don’t know if there’s an easy way to stream it now.
― Blecch, where is thy Zing? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:57 (five years ago) link
I saw Through the Olive Trees in its, um, initial US run, i.e., when they showed it for a week and didn’t advertise it or promote it.
― Blecch, where is thy Zing? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 19 August 2018 19:59 (five years ago) link
time for a mini Kiarostami season within the month, only watched 4 so far and haven't even seen Close Up ffs!
― calzino, Sunday, 19 August 2018 20:35 (five years ago) link
I’m going to do the same. Glad it had a month to go.
― Britain's Sexiest Cow (jed_), Sunday, 19 August 2018 20:45 (five years ago) link
Nobody does meta fiction with the same lightness of touch as Kierostami. Could have voted for any of the ones I’ve seen. Christopher Nolan could do with being made to watch all of these.
― 29 facepalms, Sunday, 19 August 2018 21:14 (five years ago) link
..and told never to make another motherfucking movie again in his lifetime, if it din't prove an instructive experience, the worthless piece of shit!
― calzino, Sunday, 19 August 2018 21:17 (five years ago) link
Yeah, I have no expectation we can improve Nolan, but I want him to know just how bad he is.
Anyway, I didn’t vote for it but Certified Copy is great, someone needs to say this.
― 29 facepalms, Sunday, 19 August 2018 21:27 (five years ago) link
I think I'll begin with "where is the friend's house?" unless anyone knows of anything prior to that that is a must-see.
― Britain's Sexiest Cow (jed_), Sunday, 19 August 2018 21:29 (five years ago) link
For Filmstruck (+ Criterion) subscribers, The Report is available as one of the supplements to Certified Copy, not as its own entry so you can't search for it.
― a shomin-geki poster with some horror elements (WilliamC), Sunday, 19 August 2018 22:09 (five years ago) link
Thanks!
― The Vermilion Sand Reckoner (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 19 August 2018 22:37 (five years ago) link
I don’t know if it’s a must-see but his second feature length film The Traveler from 1974 is really atmospheric and (I thought) enjoyable. It’s included as a supplement to the Criterion edition of Close-Up. It is also available on youtube. It seems like even early in his career he had a flair for memorable endings
― Dan S, Sunday, 19 August 2018 23:25 (five years ago) link
I think Close-Up is where Kiarostami becomes Kiarostami, so you could start there, but then his next two films are semi-sequels to 'Where is the Friends Home' so...
― Frederik B, Monday, 20 August 2018 07:10 (five years ago) link
just watched Like Someone in Love. I thought the Tokyo/Yokohama setting was an interesting choice. The film really came into focus for me in the last half hour or so, starting with the visit to the mechanic’s garage, after which it seemed to take on a slightly more sinister edge. As usual with Kiarostami everything was extremely understated and oblique. It didn’t feel it had as much of a meta quality as some of his earlier films, but was just as poetic and beautiful.
I really loved the scene filmed from the taxi circling the train station at night, with the main character furtively watching her grandmother standing beneath a statue, knowing she couldn’t make contact with her.
― Dan S, Saturday, 25 August 2018 15:16 (five years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Monday, 24 September 2018 00:01 (five years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 00:01 (five years ago) link
Yay!
― Frederik B, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 00:04 (five years ago) link
I was the one vote for Shirin. Approve of the overall results.
― Harper Valley CTA-102 (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 00:34 (five years ago) link
i have a soft spot for the wind will carry us
― macropuente (map), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:20 (five years ago) link
I gotta see Where is the Friend's Home?
glad Taste of Cherry placed second & close to Close-Up.
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:23 (five years ago) link
xp also i wrote a student paper on it and it felt like my mind was exploding as i was discovering its representation of space and what editing means for it lol. watching it a million times was definitely formative for me. it basically defined what kinds of movies i want to see.
― macropuente (map), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:28 (five years ago) link
i'd really love to see taste of cherry in a movie theater some day
― macropuente (map), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:30 (five years ago) link
me too
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:45 (five years ago) link
I remember reading on here (maybe even itt?) that Kiarostami's brother claimed earlier this year that Criterion is releasing all of Kiarostami's movies in 2019 a la the Bergman box. If that's the case I imagine plenty of retro screenings. Taste of Cherry needs an upgrade anyway.
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:46 (five years ago) link
I voted for Where Is The Friend's House? because it moved me the most, although I only watched three in the month (I had more to watch but had a hard drive failure).
My introduction to this stuff was The White Balloon (which I LOVE) but K only wrote that one.
― FRE SHA VAC ADO (jed_), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:55 (five years ago) link
oh the white balloon is so amazing, that was also a gateway for me.
― macropuente (map), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:58 (five years ago) link
i think it's up there or maybe even better than close-up. i need to rewatch all of these.
― macropuente (map), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 01:59 (five years ago) link
"only wrote"! it's amazing.
― FRE SHA VAC ADO (jed_), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 02:00 (five years ago) link
has anyone seen Willow and Wind? That looks fantastic as well.
― FRE SHA VAC ADO (jed_), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 02:12 (five years ago) link
just watched Ten & 10 on Ten
I am in awe of this man
always
― flappy bird, Sunday, 4 November 2018 05:18 (five years ago) link
Criterion of 24 Frames is out
https://www.criterion.com/films/29399-24-frames
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 9 January 2019 18:23 (five years ago) link
And the Kiarostami section of my Criterion shelf remains complete.
― forrest drumpf (Eric H.), Wednesday, 9 January 2019 18:25 (five years ago) link
ICYMI nye criterion cartoon sez Koker Trilogy this year
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 9 January 2019 20:46 (five years ago) link
As far as I'm concerned, AK (this one, not that one) should be Criterion's next Bergman-style mega box.
― forrest drumpf (Eric H.), Wednesday, 9 January 2019 21:08 (five years ago) link
Thread:
Here's a weird little thread about movies and pets. (1/9)— Bilge Ebiri (@BilgeEbiri) January 9, 2019
― forrest drumpf (Eric H.), Wednesday, 9 January 2019 21:09 (five years ago) link
xp -- HELL yes, I'd buy that faster than I bought the Bergman
― If Your Site Mod Vomits (Do This Every Day) (WmC), Wednesday, 9 January 2019 21:14 (five years ago) link
omg Eric, thank for that Bilge Ebiri thread.
― Acting Crazy (Instrumental) (jed_), Wednesday, 9 January 2019 23:48 (five years ago) link
I've definitely posted this before (probably itt) but a couple years ago Kiarostami's brother said that the CC would be releasing ALL of Kiarostami's films in 2019. Maybe an exaggeration, or old out of date news, but they've already got 4 announced (the Koker Trilogy hint in the cartoon is pretty obvious). I'd be surprised if they don't also at least upgrade Taste of Cherry, which they put out in ~1999 and desperately needs a remaster.
― flappy bird, Thursday, 10 January 2019 02:05 (five years ago) link
― Spirit of the Voice of the Beehive (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 10 January 2019 02:12 (five years ago) link
omg that thread is so beautiful. the pictures!
― flappy bird, Thursday, 10 January 2019 04:29 (five years ago) link
It's almost like cats' brains can't process traditional camera movements and shot lengths and require more static compositions to want to engage with themNah must be all that transcendental beauty
― resident hack (Simon H.), Thursday, 10 January 2019 04:42 (five years ago) link
That's brilliant, thanks for posting Eric!
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 10 January 2019 08:59 (five years ago) link
damn simon you HATE 24 frames!
― flappy bird, Thursday, 10 January 2019 18:12 (five years ago) link
Lol I don't really I just irrationally hate that thread
― resident hack (Simon H.), Thursday, 10 January 2019 23:57 (five years ago) link
Funny, I pretty rationally hate you
― forrest drumpf (Eric H.), Friday, 11 January 2019 00:01 (five years ago) link
;)
― forrest drumpf (Eric H.), Friday, 11 January 2019 00:02 (five years ago) link
omg how can you hate on that thread. I totally get the movie but dude. dude!! THOSE PICTURES 😢
― flappy bird, Friday, 11 January 2019 04:47 (five years ago) link
here we go
https://i.imgur.com/2iFdEwh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yrA1Wyv.jpg
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 23 January 2019 18:21 (five years ago) link
Missing a few big titles there, no?
― forrest drumpf (Eric H.), Wednesday, 23 January 2019 18:35 (five years ago) link
Looks like an upgrade soon.
pic.twitter.com/lYUafa8GiE— Janus Films (@janusfilms) February 12, 2019
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 13 February 2019 06:13 (five years ago) link
Release of the year, if so.
― zama roma ding dong (Eric H.), Wednesday, 13 February 2019 13:46 (five years ago) link