SPOTLIGHT: IRANIAN FILMS

Crimson Gold, directed by Jafar Panahi and written by Abbas Kiarostami, tells the story of an ordinary pizza deliveryman named Hussein (Hussein Emadeddin), and his journey navigating the dark injustices of Teheran - from the dirty, downtown "souk" neighborhood to the wealthy, uptown enclaves of the city. Winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Award at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.

"One of the best films at Cannes and quite likely one of the best films of the year! With an unexpectedly touching lead performance, the film vividly recalls Hollywood film noirs of the 1940s and 1950s." --Manohla Dargis, LA Times

"Electrifying and resonant. Hot enough to have been banned in [Iran]." --Jan Stuart, Newsday

“Brilliant and unforgettably powerful…an Iranian Taxi Driver.” --Daily Telegraph
 
HERE IS A LIST OF ALL OUR IRANIAN FILMS:

Baran (2001) Majid Majidi DVD & VHS. Neorealist tale of an angry 17-year-old Afghan boy who finds love.
Blackboards (2003) Samira Makhmalbaf DVD & VHS. A group of male teachers haul blackboards around remote areas looking for students.
Children of Heaven (1997) Majid Majidi VHS. Two children invent an intricate plan to conceal the loss of a pair of shoes.
The Circle (2000) Jafar Panahi DVD & VHS. Iranian women have a tough time on the streets of Tehran.
The Color of Paradise (1999), Majid Majidi, VHS. An eight-year-old blind boy deals with family life.
Crimson Gold (2003) Jafar Panahi DVD VHS. The imbalances of the Iranian social system push a pizza delivery driver over the edge.
The Cyclist (1989), Mohsen Makhmalbaf, VHS. A man desperate for money undertakes a bicycle marathon.
Gabbeh (1996), Mohsen Makhmalbaf, VHS. An elderly nomadic couple listen to stories from the lovely woman of the carpet.
Kandahar (2001), Mohsen Makhmalbaf, DVD & VHS. Harrowing story of Afghan women suffering under the Taliban regime.
Life and Nothing More (1996), Abbas Kiarostami, VHS. A director is concerned for the safety of his actor friends after a devastating earthquake.
Marooned in Iraq (2002), Bahman Ghobadi, DVD & VHS. A famous singer and his two sons go on a hazardous journey in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War.
Maryam (2000), Ramin Serry, DVD & VHS. An American teenage girl deals with anti-Iranian sentiment in 1979 suburbia.
The Mirror (1998), Jafar Panahi, VHS. A little girl gets lost on the streets of Tehran.
Secret Ballot (2001), Babak Payami, DVD & VHS. A “neo-surrealist” satire about bringing democracy to Iran.
Taste of Cherry (1997), Abbas Kiarostami, VHS. A spiritual road movie about a man looking for someone to help him with his planned suicide.
Time for Drunken Horses (2000), Bahman Ghobadi, VHS. Five motherless children deal with life on the Iran-Iraq border.
Where is the Friend's Home? (1989), Abbas Kiarostami, VHS. A boy goes on a quest to return a lost notebook to a schoolmate.
White Balloon (1995), Jafar Panahi, VHS. A seven-year-old girl wants a New Year’s goldfish, but loses the money to buy it…
The Wind Will Carry Us (1999), Abbas Kiarostami, DVD & VHS. A poetic look at life in a small village as seen from the eyes of an outsider.

OTHER FILMS OF NOTE FROM OUR COLLECTION RELATED TO AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ

Afghan Stories (2002), Taran Davies, DVD & VHS. A New York filmmaker documents how a generation of war has affected the Afghan people.
The Beast (1981), Kevin Reynolds, DVD & VHS. A Soviet tank crew struggles against a band of Mujahadeen guerrillas in the mountains.
Courage Under Fire (1996), Edward Zwick, VHS. A Lieutenant (Denzel Washington) investigates the behavior of a deceased Captain (Meg Ryan) following the Gulf War.
Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993), Jim Abrahams, VHS. Goofy comedy about a mercenary (Charlie Sheen) sent to Iraq to  rescue hostages during the Gulf War.
In This World (2003), Michael Winterbottom, DVD & VHS. Two Afghan cousins embark on a refugee’s clandestine odyssey from Pakistan to London.
Osama (2003) Siddiq Barmak DVD & VHS. A twelve-year-old girl and her mother try to cope under the Taliban regime.
Three Kings (1999) David O. Russell DVD & VHS. Some bored soldiers plan a heist during the Gulf War.
Uncle Saddam (2000) Joel Soler DVD. Dark,but humorous, documentary portrait of Saddam Hussein.
Uncovered:The Whole Truth about the Iraq War (2003) Robert Greenwald DVD. Documentary about the government’s mishandling of the Iraq War.

A FEW FILMS FROM TURKEY

Steam - The Turkish Bath (1997) Ferzan Ozpetek, VHS. An Italian designer travels to Istanbul to sell a traditional Turkish steam bath left to him by his deceased aunt. Complications develop…
The Wall (1983) Yilmaz Guney, VHS. The story of a boys dormitory in the horrible Ankara Prison.
Yol (1982) Serif Goren, VHS. Five prisoners get a temporary leave to see their families. Palme D’Or  for Best Picture at Cannes in 1982.
Journey of Hope (1990) Xavier Koller VHS. Wrenching true story of one man’s dream to emigrate from Turkey to Switzerland with his family. Won the Academy Award for best foreign film.