Tag Archives: Iran

The Books: The Essential Rumi

Posted on March 27, 2011 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Poetry. Next book on the shelf: The Essential Rumi, translations by Coleman Barks with John Moyne Ptolemy Tompkins wrote in Time Asia Edition on September 30, 2002 Jalaluddin Rumi was, among many other things, a lover of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

For the Third Time, Certified Copy

Posted on March 15, 2011 by sheila

First time I saw it at Keith and Dan’s. Three of us watching it in a living room. Second time I saw it at a press screening with about 10 critics in attendance at 11 a.m. in the morning. Tonight … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Review: Certified Copy may look like something you’ve seen before, but it isn’t

Posted on March 9, 2011 by sheila

This review originally appeared on Capital New York. In Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy, his first film shot outside of his native Iran, a middle-aged couple named James and, simply, “She” (William Shimell and Juliette Binoche) drive around the beautiful landscape … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

“How Much Is Real, How Much Fake?”

Posted on March 9, 2011 by sheila

In preparation for the release of Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy this Friday, please check out this wonderful video essay on Fandor about Juliette Binoche (who won the Best Actress prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival for her portrayal of … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Unique Copy: On Kiarostami’s Certified Copy (by Bamshad)

Posted on February 21, 2011 by sheila

Bamshad was born in Iran but his family had to flee the country when he was ten to seek political asylum in Sweden. Bamshad is a medical student in his final years, and spends every second of his free time … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

“I have to bear witness to anything that goes on in my country.” Jafar Panahi

Posted on September 7, 2010 by sheila

Article about Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s struggle now (and in the past) to make the movies he wants to make. His passport has still not been returned, so he was unable to go to the Venice Film Festival (despite high … Continue reading →

Posted in Directors | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Shirin (2008); Dir. Abbas Kiarostami

Posted on August 26, 2010 by sheila

We tell ourselves stories in order to live. The princess is caged in the consulate. The man with the candy will lead the children into the sea. The naked woman on the ledge outside the window on the sixteenth floor … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Jafar Panahi: Venice Film Festival

Posted on August 12, 2010 by sheila

Some good news on the Jafar Panahi front. At first, word was that Panahi would definitely be attending the Venice Film Festival, but now that seems a bit more up in the air. It is not clear whether or not … Continue reading →

Posted in Directors | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Black Tape (2002); Dir. Fariborz Kamkari

Posted on August 3, 2010 by sheila

The film opens with a black screen, white letters appearing across the top, as though being scrawled across a piece of paper: A Tehrani Diary. The Videotape Fariborz Kamkari Found In the Garbage. With this Blair Witch beginning, director Fariborz … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Leila: A Movie Within a Movie

Posted on July 19, 2010 by sheila

I love it when people in movies watch movies. I can think of many other favorite scenes, of characters watching a movie while in a movie (there was a very funny and moving scene in the recent 500 Days of … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment