Once Upon a Time, Cinema (1992) User Reviews

Simply brilliant

[JohnSeal · 10/10 · 25 March 2002]

This meditation on cinema and censorship is astounding. Contemporary black and white footage is interspersed with clips from older films, though sometimes the transition is so seamless one can't tell when one ends and the other begins. Crude special effects are used to create a surreal atmosphere that owes a tremendous debt to Luis Bunuel, particularly Exterminating Angel and Un Chien Andalou. There's also a Kubrick tribute towards the end of the film. No amount of exposition will prepare you for this film, which truly has to be seen to be believed. Highest rating and recommendation.

A film about the magic of cinema

[Tony Rome · 30 June 2001]

This film has many characteristics of classic cinema. It contains action, adventure, and romance. This film was made in Iran. The protagonist looks almost like Charlie Chaplain. He is given a chance to make films for the emperor. There are many scenes of people running on and off of movie screens, and in and out of old kinetiscope projectors. Some people might find this erratic, and tedious, but it helps project an idea of fantasy, or forgetting about ones problems, becoming engrossed in a film. This film is quite enjoyable, it is a sort of history of Iranian films. I give it an 8/10.

Makhmalbaf's pioneering film: criticism on government censorship over cinema

[fatherizzy · 9 November 2020]

This is an artistically productive film with an agenda that is cleverly concealed thorough symbolic metaphors depicting the censorship surrounding cinema and art production during post revolution Iran. Makhmalbaf uses film archives intertwined with original shootings to create a dance that reflects on the film industry and Iranian governmental oppression on it. Very poetic, hilarious at times, but nevertheless weights a ton.