Opening Statement

While I wasn’t new to watching movies, I hadn’t yet ventured too far outside the comfortable confines of Hollywood, so while I enjoyed Certified Copy immensely based on its own merits, it also served as a “gateway drug” of sorts to my discovery of the world’s greatest filmmakers. Just as notable was my discovery of what else this Iranian filmmaker had to offer – by John Gilpatrick, April 3, 2017

Blurred Lines: Documentary and Drama

When Sabzian pleads his case, when his mother speaks to the court on his behalf, when the Ahankhah family speak of their feelings of betrayal, all of that was captured in real time by Kiarostami. Knowing this, it might seem inarguable that Close-Up is anything other than observational cinema, but this is where Kiarostami doesn’t just film the scene, he affects it directly – by Sarah Gorr, April 4, 2017

In Context: Iran and The Cyclist

When I think about Iranian cinema, my mind goes immediately to Kiarostami and Close-Up. Of course, that ignores not only dozens of other exceptional pieces of work from his talented countrymen, but also the film and filmmaker that made Close-Up possible: Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s The Cyclist – by John Gilpatrick, April 5, 2017

Scenessential: Kicking the Can

Which elements are truth, which are false, and which are a little of both? It’s tempting to slice up the film scene by scene and declare that one reenactment and that one documentary, but Kiarostami’s methods were unorthodox throughout, so you’re left guessing even after you’ve done your homework – by Maddie Freeman, April 6, 2017

Related Review: Taxi

If I were to meet Jafar Penahi right now, I bet I would ask him the same question as the film student. I’d ask him about his sources of inspiration, and he’d tell me that I need to look to the world. He’d say it to me with the same mirthful smile that he holds throughout Taxi. How does he remain cheerful when so much has been taken from him? – by Alex Moore, April 7, 2017

Further Streaming: From Iran

As you’ve surely noticed throughout our coverage of Close-Up, film culture in Iran is deep and highly connected. Many of the country’s top filmmakers have become co-collaborators, writing, starring, or producing one another’s work. Heavily focusing on the problems of contemporary Iranian citizens, these films capture struggle [whether personal or political] with beautiful humanism – by Aaron Pinkston, April 7, 2017