Iranian Films at Ames Public Library
Today is 12/2/2008
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In Farsi with English captions, unless otherwise noted.
Baran (DVD FOREIGN BAR) 96 min. 2002.
Following up on his masterfully-told art house successes, The Children of Heaven and The Color of Paradise, Majid Majidi directs this affecting tale about illegal Afghan immigrants living and working in Iran.
Black Tape (DVD FOREIGN BLA) In Persian, Farsi, or Kurdish, with English captions. 83 min. 2007.
In a harrowing journey of discovery, a desperate young woman receives a video camera for her birthday, and through a daily video diary, reveals her husband's abuse and secret military dealings. Her life hangs in the balance when her husband finds out.
Border Café (DVD FOREIGN BOR) In Farsi, Greek, Russian, or Turkish, with English captions. 105 min. 2005.
When an Iranian widow takes over her husband's truck stop restaurant after his death, she must hide in the kitchen so she doesn't cause a scandal. Now her brother-in-law wants to be with her for the café, while a customer just wants to be with her.
Café Setareh (DVD FOREIGN CAF) In Persian with English captions. 102 min. 2005.
Three women who live in a poor neighborhood in Tehran actively seek a better life in this contemporary slice of Iranian life.
Children of Heaven (DVD FOREIGN CHI) 88 min. 1997.
A boy loses his sister's school shoes. To stay out of trouble, they devise a plan to share his shoes, but they must hide the plan from their parents. Directed by Majid Majidi.
The Circle (VIDEO FOREIGN CIR) 91 min. 2000.
This film offers insights into the lives of Iranian women. As the narrative shifts from woman to woman, their stories end with tremendous potency, transforming a shared sense of despair and injustice into kinship and hope.
Close Up (DVD FOREIGN CLO) 100 min. 1990.
Ali Sabzian enters a well-to-do neighborhood in Teheran by pretending to be Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf.
The Color of Paradise (VIDEO FOREIGN COL) 90 min. 2000.
Mohammad joyfully returns to his village from the Institute for the Blind, unaware of his father’s plan to disown him. The widowed man has kept Mohammad a secret from his fiancée. With the wedding swiftly approaching, Mohammad’s future hangs in the balance as his father struggles against his destiny, unable to see the wonder of life and love that is so clear to his son. Directed by Majid Majidi.
Daughters of the Sun (DVD FOREIGN DAU) 92 min. 2004.
Amanagol, the daughter of a poor family in rural Iran, becomes Aman when her father shaves her head and disguises her as a boy. He sends her to another village to work weaving carpets. Her secret is jeopardized when a co-worker falls in love with her.
Five Dedicated to Ozu (DVD FOREIGN FIV) 75 min. 2004.
“Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami ... pays homage to Yasujiro Ozu, the brilliant Japanese filmmaker whose spare but evocative style has been a major influence in Kiarostami's work" --Container.
Gabbeh (DVD FOREIGN GAB) 75 min. 1996.
A folkloric carpet (Gabbeh), picturing a man and a woman riding on horseback, is the prized possession of an elderly nomadic couple. When they wash the carpet, a beautiful, young woman emerges to tell the carpet’s story. Once held hostage by the restraints of the family that fashioned the carpet, she reveals that the secret lies within the mysterious rider on the horse. Season after season, he had followed her family, always present, always waiting, howling to her songs of love—longing for her to run away with him.
The Girl in the Sneakers (DVD FOREIGN GIR) 88 min. 1998.
After some unhappy accidents and in protest against her living conditions, fifteen-year-old Tadaie runs away from home when her parents forbid her to see a boy. She journeys to Tehran, which she explores. This is the story of youthful rebellion and its consequences, first love and its disappointment.
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