Dearest SuperForest,
When it comes to movies, there are two genres that hold a special place in my heart; documentaries and foreign films. Granted, I enjoy all types of films, but for some reason, I feel like I tend to get more out of foreign and documentary films. Generally speaking, I usually leave the theatre with a head full of ideas, hope, and inspiration. With that in mind, I write to you today with two movie recommendations (coincidentally, one of each of those genres)! One of a film I saw last night, another of a film I’m excited to go watch (which probably doesn’t make it much of a recommendation…so I’ll call it a prediction of awesomeness).
Last night, I ventured over to San Diego’s charming Ken Cinema, a 1 screen theatre built in 1946 and is a local favorite for watching foreign and independent films. On this particular evening, their screening of Majid Majidi’s The Song of Sparrows is what attracted me to the Ken. I’ve followed the work of Majidi for several years now and to say I’m a fan is a severe understatement. His films such as Children of Heaven and Color of Paradise are stories that, put simply, touched my soul. The striking images of those films and the beautiful cinematography will forever be emblazoned in my brain. His films have made me cry and laugh like no others. Needless to say, I was extremely excited to see his latest release.
A synopsis of the film (as presented on the theatre’s website):
The new film by Majid Majidi (The Color of Paradise, Children of Heaven) tells the gently humorous story of ordinary guy Karim (Reza Naji, winner Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival) as he struggles to support his family. He loses his well-paid job at an ostrich farm when a particularly ornery bird escapes and cannot be recaptured. Driving his moped in to Tehran to try to fix his deaf daughter’s hearing aid, Karim accidentally finds himself embarking on a profitable new career when a harried businessman jumps on and demands a ride. But exposure to heavy traffic and big city values starts to corrupt Karim’s once generous and honest nature, much to the concern of his family, who want the old Karim back. Majidi’s lyrical storytelling shines in this simple but affecting tale. Grammy-nominated composer and musician Hossein Alizadeh, a master tar and setar player, provides the haunting score.
The trailer (click to watch):
I came into the theatre with high expectations, and let me tell you, The Song of Sparrows did not disappoint. Once again, as in most of Majidi’s films, I found myself captivated by the endearing tale of a man whose personal struggles turn to spiritual triumph. Karim journeys into the city in search of a hearing aid but temptation and greed lead him astray. He becomes consumed by an urge for money and material possessions. Later on, it isn’t until an accident forces Karim to realize that his personal pursuits for wealth were misguided. As described by npr’s movie review, The Song of Sparrows is a parable of urban corruption and pastoral rehabilitation. The message is subtle, yet beautiful in its simplicity and if you are anywhere near a select theatre that will be screening this film, I highly recommend you go watch this. It’s a story that will stick with you for a long time. It’s a story that highlights how the most important things in life, are the simple things we may sometimes neglect.
The official website for this film can be found here! Be sure to check out the release schedule, there are still several chances for some of you lucky SuperForesters (living near Berkeley, San Francisco, DC, Fairfax, and Cleveland) to go check it out! For the rest of you, I’ll be sure to give an update whenever it’s available to rent or purchase.
On to the documentary film! I watched this trailer before The Song of Sparrows began (again, click to watch):
Whoa! This looks like it’s going to be a good one. I obviously don’t know much about it apart from what they said on the trailer but it looks very eye opening and left me curious to learn more. Which lead me to its website. Click here to learn more about the documentary, the issues, and how to get involved!
It will be opening in NYC, LA, and SF June 12th and after that will be released elsewhere. Until then, we’ll keep you updated!
So there you have it, a movie I highly recommend (and can’t stop gushing about), and a movie that looks pretty awesome and can’t wait to see. Hope you are having a beautiful weekend!
Cheers,
C
Recent Comments