Golshifteh Farahani Explains the Iranian "system" reflected in the movie "About Elly"

"About Elly," the fourth feature from talented Iranian helmer-scribe Asghar Farhadi, casts a revealing light on the elaborate culture of deceit thats part of modern Iranian society with this talky, overlong drama about upper-middle-class Tehranis on a catastrophic seaside holiday. Ironically, the domestic audience for whom the pic would be most appealing wont be seeing it anytime soon, because it stars banned actress Golshifteh Farahani (who reaped controversy by appearing in Ridley Scotts "Body of Lies"). Fests, ex-pats and specialty venues constitute the main audience abroad.

Pretty, warm nursery school teacher Elly (Taraneh Alidousti) is an uncomfortable outsider among a group of old university friends (two married couples, a brother and sister, and a trio of young kids), dragged along to the Caspian by overly insistent Sepideh (Farahani), the mother of one of her students. Sepidehs hidden agenda, which soon becomes obvious to the others, is to make a match between Elly and Ahmad (Shahab Hosseini), newly divorced from a German woman and desirous of an Iranian wife.

As the outing progresses, casually told lies accumulate at an alarming rate and ultimately come back to haunt the tellers. Some have to do with tarouf, a sort of faux-politeness thats embedded in Persian culture, others with the gender roles, and still others with class differences.

To many, the films first half may seem mannered, even boring, with the old pals, particularly the men, indulging in obnoxious, condescending behavior. But after an alarming incident at the 45-minute mark, Farhadi ratchets up the tension, and the pic becomes a mystery thriller of sorts that epitomizes the Sir Walter Scott quote, "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."

While not equaling the depth of characterization of Farhadis previous films, "About Elly" takes the complexity of his storytelling to a fascinating level. However, the variable quality of the thesping also prevents the pic from being his best work.

Farahani and Alidousti (who also starred in Farhadis "Beautiful City" and "Fireworks Wednesday") deliver the best perfs on the distaff side. Saber Abar, who makes an appearance in the last reels as Ellys fiance, registers more strongly than the other men.

Lensing by "Fireworks" d.p. Hossein Jafarian changes tone with the story to become more shadowed in second half, but further editing might have improved the pace and eliminated repetitiveness.

Camera (color), Hossein Jafarian; editor, Hayedeh Safarian; production and costume designer, Farhadi; sound (Stereo SR), Hassan Zahedi, Mohammad-Reza Delpak. Reviewed at Berlin Film Festival (competing), Feb. 7, 2009. Running time: 119 MIN.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Golshifteh
• farahani
• iran
• farhadi

[tiggytarelugnt]

There is no justification for lies. Ever. Doesn't matter who we blame. Iran will never change unless we choose to stop lying to ourselves, to strangers, to our parents, and to our friends. I wish we would choose to not answer, rather than to lie so easily and blatantly. Too many lies are told each day in Tehran. Perhaps that can explain why it's the most common place for plastic surgery. Well, we can either just continue lying, or we can try to be the change we wish to see in Iran.

[MrSepidehdam]

very sad but very true,

this is what the islamic republic has brought us,

we WILL see the death of islamic republic and all the evil that comes with it.

welldone golshifteh for your courage.

payandeh iran va irani, maeg bar jomhorie islami.

[Elfenprinzessin1]

@tiggytarelugnt you just don't know how live in the iran is. otherwise you wouldn't talk in such a naive and unrealistic way !!!!!

[MrDefq]

She is by far the ugliest Iranian actress I have ever seen in my life. It is good not to have an ugly slut in the Iranian cinema anymore.

[ForzaBosnae]

She is lying now, and doing it in a perfect way ... in order to get asylum. Very cheap, and sad.

[siavash2240]

I like her and i will like her and will support her but she is liar. bcoz she said many lie in this video. maybe her family force her to say lie but thanks god i didn't grow up like her

[siavash2240]

@MrSepidehdam درود بر شما دوست عزیز

[JigareTehroon]

Asghar Farhadi has smashed it big time! He's very talented, About Eli and A Separation are one of the best Iranian films I've ever seen. Bravo!