Pusan 2003

Deep breath
directed by Parviz Shahbazi
International Critics' Prize

Social Criticism
by Kora Tsereteli

“Deep breath”- the second feature shot by the Iranian filmmaker Parviz Shahbazi is typical of the “Iranian new wave“ (Graduate from the “Collage of Cinema in 1990 Parviz Shahbasi edited 12 short films before making his first feature “Traveler from the South”). It’s easy to guess – the psychological aspect of the film is reminiscent of Godard’s “Breathless” (as the title of the film hints at) but at the same time, it has narrative roots, depicting true social and national peculiarities of social problems in a hard and ruthless manner,avoiding the louder melodramatic notes so popular in classic Iranian movies of the 90s.

The favorite subject of the Iranian ”New wave” filmmakers is stories of young people struggling not only for their physical survival, but as well for love and understanding and hope for the future in their suffocating reality. “Deep breath”, concentrating mostly on the psychological drama, depicts the stories of discontented and alienated youth with a focus on despair rather then hope.

Kamran,the university student, spends his days with his friend Mansur.They go though a series of failures and mishaps, including being robbed and cheated by thugs.Unable to pay the rent soon they are thrown out into the street. The people they encounter are selfish liars—indifferent and cynical. So they are wandering around the city , trying desperately to vent their frustrations by going on an extreme, vandalizing spree.

Their dangerous and evil games step by step approach a tragic finale of the story—Kamran,left alone in his hotel room, dies vomiting blood.Confused by Kamran’s sudden death, Monsour leaves the city eventually, encountering yet more despair.

The film is an important indicator that Iranian directors have moved away from the mythology and a flashiness displayed by their elder generation and now are engaging in a much more subtle form of social criticism.

Kora Tsereteli
© FIPRESCI 2003

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