Post by dariya on Dec 13, 2014 0:13:04 GMT
I recently got a subscription to IMVBox, a streaming site that provides many lesser-known Iranian movies with English subs. It was a great decision and I continue to be stunned by the cinema of Iran, which I was first introduced to a few years ago through the master filmmaker Majid Majidi. As it turns out, he has a host of contemporaries making equally profound and beautiful works.
I'm really thankful I found this website because most of these movies don't seem to be available on DVD or anywhere, really. Almost every Iranian movie I've seen thus far, I can wholeheartedly recommend, so I thought I'd make a recommendation list featuring those more widely available and those which I've seen so far on IMVBox. If anyone else is a fan of Iranian cinema, please feel free to add your recs, thoughts here! : )
More Widely Available:
Baran A worker on a construction site becomes involved in the life of a young Afghan migrant worker who has a secret. A beautiful example of totally pure, selfless love.
The Color of Paradise A blind boy relies on his other senses to enjoy the beauty of the world, while his burdened father tries to find ways to get rid of him.
Children of Heaven Maybe the most famous Iranian film outside of Iran. A boy loses his sister's shoes and tries to make it up to her. Not my favorite of Majidi's films, but very sweet.
Turtles Can Fly A Kurdish co-production. Refugee orphans shortly before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Tragic story portrayed by completely unseasoned child actors - a unique watch.
On IMVBox:
M Like a Mother Starring the gorgeous international actress Golshifteh Farahani and one of the most talented child actors. A woman affected by chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War goes through with her pregnancy despite the risks, and after her husband leaves her, devotes herself to raising her disabled but gifted son. I cried and cried. This was a beautiful and touching movie.
Facing Mirrors Surpassed my expectations of the kind of subject matter Iranian filmmakers are tackling. A female taxi driver, despite her initial apprehensions, befriends a transgendered man who's waiting for his visa to process. The performances were so real, I was actually convinced that the actress playing "Eddie" really was transgendered. This was a beautiful film about tolerance and acceptance. Again, I got teary-eyed.
Among the Clouds An Iranian boy who helps tourists carry their luggage across the Iraq-Iran border falls in love with a beautiful Iraqi girl who often travels to Iran. I thought the actor playing the boy was brilliant and gave a really subtle performance. Again, just a wonderful movie that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
I'm really thankful I found this website because most of these movies don't seem to be available on DVD or anywhere, really. Almost every Iranian movie I've seen thus far, I can wholeheartedly recommend, so I thought I'd make a recommendation list featuring those more widely available and those which I've seen so far on IMVBox. If anyone else is a fan of Iranian cinema, please feel free to add your recs, thoughts here! : )
More Widely Available:
Baran A worker on a construction site becomes involved in the life of a young Afghan migrant worker who has a secret. A beautiful example of totally pure, selfless love.
The Color of Paradise A blind boy relies on his other senses to enjoy the beauty of the world, while his burdened father tries to find ways to get rid of him.
Children of Heaven Maybe the most famous Iranian film outside of Iran. A boy loses his sister's shoes and tries to make it up to her. Not my favorite of Majidi's films, but very sweet.
Turtles Can Fly A Kurdish co-production. Refugee orphans shortly before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Tragic story portrayed by completely unseasoned child actors - a unique watch.
On IMVBox:
M Like a Mother Starring the gorgeous international actress Golshifteh Farahani and one of the most talented child actors. A woman affected by chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War goes through with her pregnancy despite the risks, and after her husband leaves her, devotes herself to raising her disabled but gifted son. I cried and cried. This was a beautiful and touching movie.
Facing Mirrors Surpassed my expectations of the kind of subject matter Iranian filmmakers are tackling. A female taxi driver, despite her initial apprehensions, befriends a transgendered man who's waiting for his visa to process. The performances were so real, I was actually convinced that the actress playing "Eddie" really was transgendered. This was a beautiful film about tolerance and acceptance. Again, I got teary-eyed.
Among the Clouds An Iranian boy who helps tourists carry their luggage across the Iraq-Iran border falls in love with a beautiful Iraqi girl who often travels to Iran. I thought the actor playing the boy was brilliant and gave a really subtle performance. Again, just a wonderful movie that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.