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"Facets Multi-Media Inc." are continuing to release some outstanding international classics of cinema on DVD. Many have been rarely shown theatrically in North America. Based on a true story, director Abbas Kiarostami's 1990 film "Close-Up" is one of these clandestine gems. This Iranian film is regarded by many critics as one of the most brilliant offerings of the 90's. It blends both documentary and fiction into a perfect foil for its powerful and touching finale. The film flirts between realism and pseudo-documentary status, being all at once, concise and vague, touching and comical. Kiarostami thrusts us into a harsh reality while displaying characters that appear constantly out of place in society. We are bonded to them with the truthful power of his cinema that floats on a mirage of reality. To the viewer that illusion becomes both meaningful and profound. | |
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Close-Up by Abbas Kiarostami Review of the film and Facets DVD by Gary W. Tooze |
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| "Close-Up" is a true story that takes place over a forty day period in the life of Hossain Sabzian, a misguided and unbalanced art film fanatic. His slight resemblance to director Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Kandahar, The Cyclist etc.) allows him to impersonate his admired hero. Because of this fraud he enjoys the notoriety and the respect of an upper middle-class family in Tehran, (The Ahankhah's). He is eventually revealed as an imposter, arrested and brought to trial. The courtroom activity was filmed "live" by Kiarostami with one camera filming close-ups on Sabzian. This sequence, his interview in jail (by Kiarostami) and the final scene are not reenacted but filmed live. For the rest of the film the real individuals of the story repeat their experiences to portray themselves in front of the camera. Since the characters are not professional actors, the genre appears to touch upon "neo-realism", giving much of what transpires an air of spontaneity. Part of the brilliance of the film is in its total uniqueness. With a "real' character shown as himself and then playing himself (actually imitating another person!) it would appear that this is difficult to classify in film terms. | ||
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| In the court, Sabzian gives sincere and frank testimony dispensing his own brand of philosophy about his desires and the faults of society contributing to his behavior. It does not come across as making excuses, but very honest seeming content to accept whatever punishment the court dispenses remarking earlier that "Jail is good for the good and bad for the bad". It is eventually determined by the court that he had no criminal intent and the Ahankhah's dismiss the charges. | ||
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Through the course of film we are meeting characters who do not seem appropriate for their occupations, be it a taxi-cab driver who was once a fighter pilot, a confused civil servant, an qualified engineer who sells bread, a judge dressed in religious garb, a man walking the streets attempting to sell turkeys, or police officers who share a car ride to make arrests. This is Kiarostami's depiction of modern Iranian society; filled with displaced people who are never comfortable with their station and contribution to society. This extremely subtle representation only endears us to the main character, Sabzian, as we come empathize with his reasons for his obvious delusions. This could be one reason many critics feel "Close-Up" has such humanist qualities. It makes abstract reference to the economic and physiological ailment of the citizens of modern Iran, giving us an acceptable nature towards the lengths they might go for mental survival. |
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In
both its simplicity and complexity, "Close-Up" is a wonderful
mediation that makes me eager to see the 43 minute documentary "Close-Up
Long Shot" made in 1996 by Mamhoud Chokrollahi. In this short
film he revisits the character
of Sabzian, who tells of the sincerity of his impersonation, how it gave
him short lived fame, much sympathy and a great deal of difficulty.
Kiarostami's film is easily considered the best of its unique genre and I
agree; one of the best films of the 90's.  out
of . |
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| Film and DVD Details | ||
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(Click on cover to enlarge) |
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Facets
are continuing in the vein of DVD production adhering to accuracy for
presentation, but weak in extra features.
This DVD transfers an average of 5.55 MB/sec and at times shows its
propensity for wear and tear (just as a pseudo documentary would attempt). The film
is shown in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The film's length is 1:33:27
minutes. The
language is Farsi
with "burned-in" English subtitles (non-removable). Unfortunately,
each subtitle has a background of gray for the white lettering to be
clearly seen
and it can distract from the image (yellow being the usual and preferred
subtitle choice). There are sixteen well defined chapters. The extras include an Abbas Kirostami static screen "Filmography" section,
ditto for Mohsen
Makhmalbaf and a three question interview of Kiarostami
by Jamsheed Akrami, a professor of Communications at William Paterson
University recorded for his documentary on Iranian Cinema entitled "Friendly
Persuasion". Kiarostami's answers are quite lengthy and illuminating. The
running time of the disclosed part of this interview is 9:53 minutes. Many
Cinema fans would crave more from the DVD, but overall it is to be commended
for being brought to this versatile medium. Thank you Facets.  out
of . |
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| Full Cast and Crew for Nema-ye Nazdik (1990) Directed by Abbas Kiarostami Writing credits Abbas Kiarostami Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Hossain Sabzian .... Himself Mohsen Makhmalbaf .... Himself Abolfazl Ahankhah .... Himself Mehrdad Ahankhah .... Himself Monoochehr Ahankhah .... Himself Mahrokh Ahankhah .... Herself Nayer Mohseni Zonoozi .... Herself Ahmad Reza Moayed Mohseni .... Family Friend Hossain Farazmand .... Reporter Hooshang Shamaei .... Taxi Driver Mohammad Ali Barrati .... Soldier Davood Goodarzi .... Sergeant Haj Ali Reza Ahmadi .... Judge Hassan Komaili .... Court Recorder Davood Mohabbat .... Court Recorder Abbas Kiarostami .... Himself (voice) Ali Sabzian .... Himself/Makhmalbaf Produced by Ali Reza Zarrin .... executive producer Cinematography by Ali Reza Zarrindast Film Editing by Abbas Kiarostami Makeup Department Farima Zand-Pour .... makeup artist Production Management Hassan Agha Karimi .... production manager Sound Department Ahmad Asgari .... sound Mahammad Haghighi .... sound Other crew Ali Reza Mirzaei .... camera operator |
DVD
Technical Information
Release
Information:
Discographic
Information: Aspect
Ratio(s): • Filmographies (Kiarostami, Makhmalbaf) • Interview with Abbas Kiarostami
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