Mark the calendar Chicago Int'L Film Festival will be here October 4 - 17 and there are two movies from Iran:
Exile Family Movie
A geographically split Persian family organizes a secret reunion in the bittersweet documentary Exile Family Movie. While some family members have emigrated to Europe or America, the majority has stayed in Iran. Some have been able to meet briefly with extended family members, but there has not been a true reunion in 20 years. Flying in the face danger, the meeting is set in Mecca. Those living in exile navigate their way across borders by pretending to be Muslim pilgrims—thereby avoiding suspicion from the authorities—and the reunion finally occurs. Culture clash seems unavoidable, mostly stirred up by an émigré woman who rejects many Muslim traditions rooted in patriarchy. But in the end, family wins out, and the reunion shines with an irrefutable love. English, German, and Farsi with English subtitles. 94 min
A geographically split Persian family organizes a secret reunion in the bittersweet documentary Exile Family Movie. While some family members have emigrated to Europe or America, the majority has stayed in Iran. Some have been able to meet briefly with extended family members, but there has not been a true reunion in 20 years. Flying in the face danger, the meeting is set in Mecca. Those living in exile navigate their way across borders by pretending to be Muslim pilgrims—thereby avoiding suspicion from the authorities—and the reunion finally occurs. Culture clash seems unavoidable, mostly stirred up by an émigré woman who rejects many Muslim traditions rooted in patriarchy. But in the end, family wins out, and the reunion shines with an irrefutable love. English, German, and Farsi with English subtitles. 94 min
Chahar shanbe souri
Hired as a maid for constantly feuding couple Morteza and Mojdeh, bride-to-be Rouhi is thrust headfirst into a whirlwind of middle-class commotion in rising star Asghar Farhadi’s perceptive and superblyacted drama of infidelity and social hierarchies. Disenchanted Mojdeh suspects her husband of having an affair with next door neighbor, beautician Simin. Modjeh soon entrusts the innocuous Rouhi to spy on Simin, and begins her own reconnaissance mission as well, setting the tone for a chaotic and complex tale where everyone is hiding something. As Rouhi unwittingly stumbles upon all of their secrets, the film hits a climactic end—rounded out with the streets and sky ablaze with fireworks. Farsi with English subtitles. 104 min.
