Tambourine (2008) User Reviews

Short Cuts, Iranian Style

[corrosion-2 · 7/10 · 24 January 2009]

Dayereh-e Zangi (tambourine) became the all time box office champ in Iran when it was released in 2008. It is basically a social comedy but packed with popular stars of cinema & TV. It could be described as an Altmanesque film with many characters and a series of diverging story lines. There's even a hint of this in the movie when one of the characters, who is a young amateur film maker, asks a pirate DVD seller if he can get him a copy of Altman's Short Cuts. Most of the film takes place in a residential tower where installation of satellite dishes (which are officially banned in Iran) on the rooftop becomes a point of conflict, as well as the cause for a few hilarious situations. Dayereh means circle in Farsi and the script, written by Asghar Farhadi the acclaimed director of Chaharshanbe-soori (and directed by his wife Parisa Bakhtavar), has a symmetrical shape to it as it starts with one of the protagonists having his necktie stolen by a passing motorist who is seen again at the end of the movie giving a ride to another of the main characters. Dayereh-Zangi is quite entertaining & funny at times. It does poke some mild fun at a number of targets including LA based TV channels, local government and even Kiarostami! (an amateur version of Ten being made by a young spiring film maker). Altogether good harmless fun if your expectations are not too high.

a fabric woven of happy and sad threads

[aminifatimaaa · 8/10 · 31 December 2018]

One of Farhad Asghari's most sensational gems. Complex and a slow paced concept, but very artistic and wonderful to watch.

This Is Real Comedy, Not Texas I & II

[pangipingu · 7/10 · 24 March 2020]

"Tambourine" directed by Parisa Bakhtavar, and written by her husband, a brilliant screenwriter, Asghar Farhadi, is one of the few comedy movies produced domestically that kept me truly intrigued to watch it till the end. In this film, there was no need to use vulgar jokes inappropriate for children to make the audience laugh, as it is unfortunately the vogue nowadays. The circumstances of the characters were funny enough; their constant arguments over pitiful subjects such as who is in charge of the roof of the apartment; the whole thing might have seemed hilarious to an onlooker, though most stressful and vexing to a party inside the mess. As an ending note, I would have preferred the pre-amended version of the picture; the one in which the police officers fail to catch Shirin, since it is closer to what happens in real life.

Eleven of Ten!

[alibahrani-52380 · 10/10 · 27 June 2021]

If you ask me to name a flawless movie, I will definitely mention this movie. Amazing couple of Bakhtavar and Farhadi have been doing this since the production of this movie.

Acting performances are decent. Saber Abar, Mehran Modiri, Omid Rohani... you name it!

A great comedy and explains social problems well.

[racoonito · 8/10 · 21 March 2021]

It says that people in Iran want to be normal like everywhere else. This movies script is worked on really professionally. The acting was amazing (except Barran Kowsari). It has a great message the director worked amazingly to shoot the scenes and the areas they are feel perfect. The movie was great. Not enough to get 9 or 10/10.