“Blackboards” by Samira Makhmalbaf (2000)

A year’s favorites review

In a land where children are used as mules to carry stolen goods across the border, a group of teachers tries to find pupils. But all the inhabitants of these mountain villages refuse, saying that learning to write and to read is useless
A seemingly extremely simple movie full of deep resonances
“The stripped-down dramatic constructs, austere imagery and abstract characters are equal parts poetry and politics, obvious at times but evocative and heartfelt.” [Sean Axmaker]
[Duane Dudek] “A stark metaphor about diasporic people wandering aimlessly through rocky, desolate terrain, buffeted by unseen forces beyond their control” in which education and the hope for a better life it brings has no place

Cast: Said Mohamadi, Behnaz Jafari, Bahman Ghobadi
Director: Samira Makhmalbaf
Writers: Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Samira Makhmalbaf
Music by Mohammad Reza Darvishi
Cinematography by Ebrahim Ghafori
Film Editing by Mohsen Makhmalbaf

“At Five In The Afternoon” by Samira Makhmalbaf (2003)

Hommage to Hana and Samira Makhmalbaf

(and to Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Marziyeh Meshkini)

A father and her daughter have to keep moving in a voyage that leads them from not much to nothingness
“Despite the deprivations suffered by its subjects, At Five in the Afternoon is distinguished by the elegance and eloquence of its images.” [Jason Anderson]
As in Samira Makhmalbaf’s previous movies, fighting ignorance plays a central role

Cast: Agheleh Rezaie, Abdolgani Yousefrazi, Razi Mohebi
Director: Samira Makhmalbaf
Writers: Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Samira Makhmalbaf
Music by Mohammad Reza Darvishi
Cinematography by Ebrahim Ghafori, Samira Makhmalbaf
Film Editing by Mohsen Makhmalbaf

“Blackboards” by Samira Makhmalbaf (2000)

Hommage to Hana and Samira Makhmalbaf

(and to Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Marziyeh Meshkini)

In a land where children are used as mules to carry stolen goods across the border, a group of teachers tries to find pupils. But all the inhabitants of these mountain villages refuse, saying that learning to write and to read is useless
A seemingly extremely simple movie full of deep resonances
“The stripped-down dramatic constructs, austere imagery and abstract characters are equal parts poetry and politics, obvious at times but evocative and heartfelt.” [Sean Axmaker]
[Duane Dudek] “A stark metaphor about diasporic people wandering aimlessly through rocky, desolate terrain, buffeted by unseen forces beyond their control” in which education and the hope for a better life it brings has no place

Cast: Said Mohamadi, Behnaz Jafari, Bahman Ghobadi
Director: Samira Makhmalbaf
Writers: Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Samira Makhmalbaf
Music by Mohammad Reza Darvishi
Cinematography by Ebrahim Ghafori
Film Editing by Mohsen Makhmalbaf