I decided to watch this film because I was under the impression that it was a documentary about a band from Iran that I like called the Yellow Dogs. It turns out that this film is neither a documentary nor about that band, though the band and their music are featured in several scenes. In any case, I'm glad I found this film and watched it, because it was a good and fresh experience.
The movie is about a couple of young musicians in Iran who are trying to get a band together and leave the country to go tour abroad, though many obstacles stand in the way of their dreams. I like the story and the style of the movie. It feels very real and took me quite a while to figure out that what I was watching was not a documentary. There is one scene I particularly enjoyed in which several musicians are sitting around eating and talking about what they would wish for. It felt very dramatic and poignant but still very real.
Another thing I liked about the movie was the music. Several different musical acts comprising a variety of eclectic genres appear in the film and perform songs in their entirety. Usually these songs are accompanied by music videos which look as if they were pieced together from the film's B-roll footage and which flow seamlessly into the rest of the film. I specifically liked one scene in which a band is playing in a barn and the music continues uninterrupted as we watch the ailing drummer abandon his drum kit and the others put down their instruments to help him.
Overall, the movie was very good and enjoyable. It wasn't boring and the story and pacing were great. It didn't feel like anything groundbreaking to me, but it was fresh and original to a certain degree. There were a few stylistic and editing decisions that kept me from enjoying it more, but it is worth seeing and I'm glad I watched it. I haven't seen many Iranian films but this one offers viewers a pretty good glimpse into city life in that country. I recommend it to music fans or anyone who wants to see something new and different.
The movie is about a couple of young musicians in Iran who are trying to get a band together and leave the country to go tour abroad, though many obstacles stand in the way of their dreams. I like the story and the style of the movie. It feels very real and took me quite a while to figure out that what I was watching was not a documentary. There is one scene I particularly enjoyed in which several musicians are sitting around eating and talking about what they would wish for. It felt very dramatic and poignant but still very real.
Another thing I liked about the movie was the music. Several different musical acts comprising a variety of eclectic genres appear in the film and perform songs in their entirety. Usually these songs are accompanied by music videos which look as if they were pieced together from the film's B-roll footage and which flow seamlessly into the rest of the film. I specifically liked one scene in which a band is playing in a barn and the music continues uninterrupted as we watch the ailing drummer abandon his drum kit and the others put down their instruments to help him.
Overall, the movie was very good and enjoyable. It wasn't boring and the story and pacing were great. It didn't feel like anything groundbreaking to me, but it was fresh and original to a certain degree. There were a few stylistic and editing decisions that kept me from enjoying it more, but it is worth seeing and I'm glad I watched it. I haven't seen many Iranian films but this one offers viewers a pretty good glimpse into city life in that country. I recommend it to music fans or anyone who wants to see something new and different.