Taste of Cherry

What's the point of living if we're inevitably going to die? You can lead a very prominent life but your reputation will be forgotten sooner or later. So why bother living?

This is something Abbas Kiarostami explores thoroughly in Taste of Cherry. Life will carry on without anyone noticing that you're gone. This is apparently the thought running through Badii's (Homayoon Irshadi) mind. No one will miss him when he's gone, so might as well end it all now.

On that note, we never do find out why Badii intends to end his life. End of a relationship? Loss of a job? Unknown mental illness? There are many possibilities but none clearly answered.

Another noted feature of Taste of Cherry is the cinematography by Homayoon Payvar. Many of the shots are of Badii in his car, looking for an accomplice for his deeds. Rarely does the camera drift out of the car to focus on the scenery around him. The camera only wants Badii.

Taste of Cherry was very good but I didn't adore it as much as I did with Certified Copy. However, both films essentially confirmed that Kiarostami is a director I'm keeping an eye on. The reason? Not only are his films gorgeously shot but his characters are very interesting to watch.

My Rating: ****1/2

Certified Copy

There's something magical about two people meeting for the first time. As they spend more time with each other, they may realize that they were meant to be.

Abbas Kiarostami's Certified Copy depicts such an occurrence beautifully. Not being familiar with Kiarostami, I wasn't aware of what he was capable of. What I got is perhaps one of the best films of the last five years.

I also didn't really know the premise of the film until I started watching it. And it's a very lovely premise. I'll try not to give it away to those who haven't seen it yet. It is something better appreciated with little knowledge.

The stars of Certified Copy are Juliette Binoche and William Shimell, whom seem like odd choices. A French Oscar winner and a British opera singer in an Iranian director's film? Sounds strange, but Binoche and Shimell are actually perfect in their roles.

Certified Copy is one of those films that's practically impossible to get out of your mind once the credits start to roll. It's also one of those films that, in my eyes, proves that cinema is re-inventing itself rather than dying. It also got me intrigued as to what else Kiarostami has made. Hmm, A Taste of Cherry sounds good...

My Rating: *****