Cert PG
83 mins
BBFC advice: Contains infrequent moderate bad language
In the past few days we have heard President Donald Trump bang the drum of anti-Iranian sentiment.
His speeches suggest that the government in Tehran could become the common enemy of Israel and Saudi Arabia.
I have no doubt that Trump considers Iran the most oppressive of states and he may well be right.
But I can't help but consider the films which are emerging from the country which appear out of sync with his view.
It is not that I am suggesting they are particularly liberal but it is the very fact that they exist at all and, by dint of their worldwide distribution, appear to have the tacit approval of the state.
Compare this with North Korea, Saudi Arabia or similarly repressive regimes which don't have movie industries and figures of the past such as Colonel Gaddafi who banned cinema.
Interestingly, Pakistan is another state whose films seem to belie the impression we are fed in the West.
Inversion is another Iranian film which challenges preconceptions despite being relatively quiet with a rather disappointing conclusion.
Director Behnam Behzadi questions the traditions of Iran, via the plight of Niloofar (Sahar Dowlatshahi), the youngest daughter of an ailing mother (Shirin Yazdanbakhsh).
Niloofar takes on many of the family responsibilities, looking after her mum while also running a textile factory but she is happy with her life in Tehran.
However, when doctors insist her mum should the leave fume-ridden capital, her feckless brother (Ali Mosaffa) and selfish sister (Roya Javidnia) decide her future without consultation.
Meanwhile, what they don't know is that Niloofar has a secret romantic interest (Ali Reza Aghakhani) who is desperate for her not to leave.
Action film fans would best stay away from Inversion because it is a drama where points of principle are fired rather than bullets by a cast who are so convincing it would be easy to believe they are real family.
It highlights the terrible pollution which has apparently blighted Tehran for many years while also focusing on important points of choice over tradition.
But most of all it shows Tehran to be a much more normal society than many in the West would believe.
Sure, women wear scarves over their heads but I remember when they did in the UK in the 1960s as a fashion statement, A scarf never killed anyone,
Reasons to watch: gives a greater understanding of life in Iran
Reasons to avoid: devoid of action scenes
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10
Star tweet
Was quietly invested in Behnam Behzadi’s INVERSION
0 Yorumlar