Bab'Aziz

[mellowtigger]

I went to see this movie last night. (Trailer here.) It cost $9, but it was money well spent. I really liked the film.

It's from Iran, and it was nice to see desert country without any of the religious/political/economic concerns of the last 100 years involved. There was precious little dialog in it. I like that. The movie started "slow" and got slower from there. It's not going to please most American audiences, but I really liked it. For much the same reason that I like "Samurai Jack" episodes, I suppose. It's not necessary to gab in order to experience what life has to show.

I talk about walking into the forest and not coming back, and I do expect to accomplish it someday. Well, this movie is about (sort of) a blind man and a young girl walking into the desert. I grew up in desert in West Texas, the kind of flat scrub desert that you see in video from Iraq these days, but this movie shows the kind of desert with rolling sand dunes as far as the eye can see. They craft buildings into the ground, with steps leading down from sand level to the building floor, rather than above ground like we do here.

That's just a superficial observation though. The movie was more about: life-and-death, purpose, life-story.

It's showing locally at the Uptown for only one week. I'd expect a similar short life on the big screen elsewhere too. My recommendation: go see it.  Some of the beautiful scenery would be harder to experience on a tv screen if you wait for it to show there.

Comments

Nice

[otterlover01.livejournal.com]

Hi! Interesting posting MT. I just have to comment that I truly love to see movies made in far away countries and cultures with a different Life and Death conceptions. The fact that it deals with a desert scennery has a special appeal to me sinc I, even when I spent my first 7 years of life in a forest, have spent the main part of my life in the desert. Two different parts of the Sonoran Desert. So, I more-or-less understand the powerful shaping forces of this kind of environment. Thank you for the posting, the reccomendation and the link, I would try to see these piece somewhere in a big screen. Best, Luis.

Re: Nice

[mellowtigger]

I didn't even mention the music, which was serene.

Re: Nice

[(Anonymous)]

And I didn't mention that I am a bit prone to collecting fine soundtracks, so, you may be also adding to this "addiction" of mine too! :o) Thank you for the tip nice guy! Luis. ;o)

Re: Nice

[otterlover01.livejournal.com]

"Angelic" sounds nice. And I didn't mention that I am a bit prone to collecting fine soundtracks, so, you may be also adding to this "addiction" of mine too! :o) Thank you for the tip nice guy! Luis. ;o)

Re: Nice

[(Anonymous)]

It's a bit expensive, but you can order the BAB'AZIZ double-CD soundtrack from Europe here: https://www.trigon-film.org/en/shop/Soundtracks/BabAziz
I did, and it's gorgeous!

Alex in Seattle

Re: Nice

[otterlover01.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link, very generous of you. You might then enjoy this one too: http://www.ashesandsnow.org/en/flash-popup.php
Best,
Luis in Baja.

Re: Nice

[otterlover01.livejournal.com]

Hey my friend! If you enjoyed Bab'Aziz, I thought you might enjoy this link: http://www.ashesandsnow.org/en/flash-popup.php
Warmest regards,
Luis.

Re: Nice

[mellowtigger]

Ooh, yes, that is nice. Interactions between humans and other animals. I'd like to see that exhibit in person if it ever travels to the USA again (or someplace nearby in Canada).

[khrysso.livejournal.com]

I've learned to like the undramatic movies that just kind of slowly unfold without any major conflicts or transitions. It's what I like about the work of Horton Foote, especially (Tender Mercies, The Trip to Bountiful).