45 - Taste of Cherry

[captainofbeef]

- Theatrical trailer
- Rare interview with filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami by Iranian film scholar Dr. Jamsheed Akrami
- Kiarostami feature filmography

[ie]

I just finished watching Taste of Cherry, and overall, I'm not really sure what I think of it. I mean, I like the movie, but I'm not really sure how I feel about the movie, or how the movie made me feel about the subject matter.


To all those who haven't seen this movie, I'd strongly recommend going in knowing as little as possible. Just watch it. Don't read below, don't read even non-spoiler material.

SPOILER: Click to show

I was reading IMDB, and what this one person said about the cast of characters really struck me:

"It was mentioned in the review that backgrounds of the three persons with whom Badii interacted could be interpreted in multiple ways--1) as major pillars of society--army (soldier), science (taxidermist), and religion (seminary student) or 2) social relatives--son (young soldier), brother (relatively older seminary student), and father (taxidermist). However, the differences in their country of origin and cultures was not discussed in the review."

On another note: Ebert concerned me with his review of the Elephant Man, which the good Agent Knight assured me is not a career ending note. But Ebert discredits himself on his review of Taste of Cherry, he really does.


edit: I wrote a little bit about what I thought about the ending. Here's what I wrote...


Well, if he had remained on his current "path," he would have let the third guy be. But instead, he goes and visits him. In particular, he's like: could you check to make sure I'm not dead? You know, like he's still willing to go through with it, but if he backed out, that he doesn't want to be killed.

I may not have seen it at the end, but I didn't see him take any pills. He just smokes a little, throws the bag of money in the grave and then hops in.

[criterionmaster]

What a film! My first Kiarostami film as well. ie, I think I lean more towards the first part of what that guy says more, about the people being "pillars of society." But really I don't feel either way truly explains the people. Each person is from a different background, which definitely has something to do with it, but I don't think there is a true meaning behind the people.

I think I did see him take the sleeping pills at the end, but it was very dark, he made a hand movement towards his mouth like he was taking something, if you watch closely. I like that the film is very open ended because it leaves room for your own opinions. I for one, think he did live actually, only because of his being reluctant to go through with it, and his constant reminding and demanding of the man to check and make sure he is not alive still.

As for the footage they put on at the end, does anyone know of any significance to this? I am not really sure how to interpret it.

Who cares what Ebert has to say? The film is a masterpiece.

[ie]

SPOILER: Click to show

Well, at the end, Mr. Badii does realize the importance of living. So either he goes on to live a happy life, or he dies after having found happiness.

I've heard that the footage at the end is suppose to remind the viewers that this was just a movie. In that regard, it kind of takes us away from the movie being solely a debate whether Mr. Badii kills himself or not, and allows us to think outside of that. It's a point of discussion, but it's not like some movies where the ending is the only thing the mattered. It also reminds us that Mr. Badii could be anyone.

I'm just slightly concerned for Roger Ebert is all. He was so quick to dismiss the movie, and was inaccurate on several occasions, that it makes me wonder if his other reviews are just as flawed. Oh well, he has his opinions, you have yours, and I have mine.


Also make sure to check out the extras as well, because some of the points brought up were very noteworthy.

[criterionmaster]

I just watched the interview with him on the disc. It was fascinating some of the stuff he had to say, and I loved his discussion of censorship. Funny that they start talking about Tarantino in the interview.

[captainofbeef]

I was extremely disappointed in this film. Despite the beauty and the symbolism involved, I couldn't get into the film without any plot background. Plus, I thought the end was rushed after the first hour moved at a nearly glacial pace.