11'09''01 - September 11 (2002)

This is a collection of eleven films of 11 minutes 9 seconds 1 frame each all on the subject of the terrorist attacks of 11.9.01 in NYC. Each film is from a different country and by a different director.

This film really deserves 11 reviews, but I'll highlight all the shorts here:

The British one is my favorite - a documentary of a Chilean immigrant who also remembers another September 11, one where the United States was the aggressor in Chile. Burkina Faso and Iran emphasize the innocence of children and the amazing waste of money used in warfare when there are so many other needs. Mexico forces us to use our sense of hearing and gives us sounds from the actual attack - truly horrifying against a black backdrop with infrequent frames of people falling from the towers. India retells a heartrending story of Pakistani immigrants in NYC. Israel contrasts the attacks with its daily struggle against terrorism, while Bosnia Herzegovina also contrasts the memorial of the recent deaths with the 9/11 attacks. France and United States show that good can come out of such tragedy. Japan tells an odd moral tale about holy wars. Egypt gives supernatural perspective on terrorism.

Having all of these perspectives are truly a treasure.

IMDB

Ta'm e guilass (1997)

This is a very slow and reflective film about the purpose of life. It brings a unique perspective to western viewers as it comes from Iran.

Taste of Cherry is shot in the wilderness outskirts of Teheran where a man is driving around in a Range Rover trying to find someone to help him in his suicide project. Everyone is reluctant to help him, though he tries to hire a Kurdish soldier, an Afghan cleric, and finally a Turkish natural history museum worker. The each present their argument to remain living: the state/government, Islam, and nature.

The acting is intriguing because there is very little emotion until the Turk comes on scene. The man wishing to die does not explain why he wishes such, but he maintains a strong resolve throughout the telling of his story.

There is a mysterious postlude to the film shot on on videotape and placed after the close of the film and before the rolling of the credits. I read different interpretations as to its purpose, and I can see it's usefulness, but it served as a distraction to me more than anything at the time.

IMDB

Persepolis (2007)

Based on a graphic novel about and by the author, Persepolis gives us a unique look at the Iranian revolution and what it meant to grow up there.

Marjane is only a young girl when much of the political upheaval begins, but she experiences more as Iraq attacks the Iran and the Islamist fundamentalists take over. She is decidedly strong in her resistance and rebels against everything.

The story is very compelling as is the gorgeous animation. The sequences with God are particularly intriguing. 

Official Site | IMDB