From two masters of Iranian cinema, with script by Abbas Kiarostami and direction by Jafar Panahi, this is another trip across the divide of cultural difference. As Iran is next on America’s “axis of evil” hit list, it is important for us to see the daily life of Teheran -- even the traffic is a revelation. Though not as winning and fully engaging as Panahi’s White Balloon or The Circle, this film is much more pointed in its critique of class division and fundamentalist enforcement. Based on a true story and starring an actual pizza deliveryman, it depicts one of the same as he makes his rounds, and is driven to the desperate and misbegotten robbery attempt that begins and ends the film. Slow and oblique, this is hardly a crowdpleaser, but remains distantly fascinating. (2003, dvd, n.) *6* (MC-81, RT-87.)
On this film, I permit myself a next day reconsideration. Let’s be honest, the glories of Iranian neorealism can be boring to eyes attuned to the speed of American filmmaking, once you get past the sheer exoticism of going behind the veil, as it were. But the strength of Kiarostami’s schema emerges in reflection after the fact, and scenes that may have seemed pointless and endless in their duration begin to seem like clear statements in a syllogism. In deference to less refined tastes, I cannot give this an unqualified recommendation, but it’s worth at least a: *7-*
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