After being mesmerized by the Iran New Wave title The Cow (also reviewed),I decided to take a look at the other credits of auteur Dariush Mehrjui. Standing from all the serious-sounding Drama's he has done,I was shocked to see that Mehrjui's debut was a Euro Spy-style movie,which with not having a review anywhere online, led to me excitingly counting the 33 diamonds.
View on the film:
Possibly the only Iranian 007-style film, co-writer/ (with Mohammad Reza Fazeli) debuting director Dariush Mehrjui fits right in with the spirit of the Euro Spy genre of the era,as Mehrjui & cinematographer Mostafa Alemian give the country the appearance of an exotic location straight from Bond,complete with speedboat chases across a glittering river and thrilling action scenes of rolling cars,vicious karate chops and fiery shoot-outs.
Showing an eye for style that would take on a darker tone in The Cow (also reviewed), Mehrjui offers a rare glimpse to the swinging 60's Iran (!) in a delicious kitsch design of bubbly reds,yellows and the evil lair of the baddie looking like a nightclub, along with the glamour of all the ladies being in alluring figure-hugging dresses.
Releasing the starting pistol with a pre-credits assassination, (sadly no theme song for credits)the screenplay by Mehrjui and Fazeli cut some satirical diamonds with the secret formula which allows for stones to be made from oil, but largely stay focused on the espionage hi-jinxes of Linda,who high- kicks any animated baddie who tries to get their hands on the formula.
Being somewhat ahead of the curve by having Linda be the lead spy, the writers give the interplay between her and Reza the sparks of a "caper" movie,which sparkle from kisses together in the bath, to knocking henchmen overboard on a ship. Charming Linda and all the evil guys,Reza Fazeli gives a pitch-perfect performance as energetic heart-throb Reza.
The first of two Iranian films she did, Nancy Kovack gives a magnetic performance as Linda,whose rush to jump in the middle of the action is tied by Kovack with a calculating edge over making sure the baddies don't get the 33 diamonds.
View on the film:
Possibly the only Iranian 007-style film, co-writer/ (with Mohammad Reza Fazeli) debuting director Dariush Mehrjui fits right in with the spirit of the Euro Spy genre of the era,as Mehrjui & cinematographer Mostafa Alemian give the country the appearance of an exotic location straight from Bond,complete with speedboat chases across a glittering river and thrilling action scenes of rolling cars,vicious karate chops and fiery shoot-outs.
Showing an eye for style that would take on a darker tone in The Cow (also reviewed), Mehrjui offers a rare glimpse to the swinging 60's Iran (!) in a delicious kitsch design of bubbly reds,yellows and the evil lair of the baddie looking like a nightclub, along with the glamour of all the ladies being in alluring figure-hugging dresses.
Releasing the starting pistol with a pre-credits assassination, (sadly no theme song for credits)the screenplay by Mehrjui and Fazeli cut some satirical diamonds with the secret formula which allows for stones to be made from oil, but largely stay focused on the espionage hi-jinxes of Linda,who high- kicks any animated baddie who tries to get their hands on the formula.
Being somewhat ahead of the curve by having Linda be the lead spy, the writers give the interplay between her and Reza the sparks of a "caper" movie,which sparkle from kisses together in the bath, to knocking henchmen overboard on a ship. Charming Linda and all the evil guys,Reza Fazeli gives a pitch-perfect performance as energetic heart-throb Reza.
The first of two Iranian films she did, Nancy Kovack gives a magnetic performance as Linda,whose rush to jump in the middle of the action is tied by Kovack with a calculating edge over making sure the baddies don't get the 33 diamonds.
