Comments on: Ahmadi at the Movies http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780 The sidewalks of Tehran in quest of glory. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:21:52 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Pedestrian http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33182 Pedestrian Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:53:45 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33182 Naj, I think Mehrjooyi has got to be my favorite Iranian director. And what's up with Kimiyayee post-revolution? I'm just one audience member, so this is a personal opinion, but he seems to be going downhill. Hey! I like Film Farsi! ;-) "Ganj-e Gharoon" is one of the most important Iranian movies ever made! Naj, I think Mehrjooyi has got to be my favorite Iranian director. And what’s up with Kimiyayee post-revolution? I’m just one audience member, so this is a personal opinion, but he seems to be going downhill.

Hey! I like Film Farsi! ;-) “Ganj-e Gharoon” is one of the most important Iranian movies ever made!

]]> By: naj http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33149 naj Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:28:45 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33149 Pirouz, How about films of Mehrjooyee, Baizayee, Kimiyayee, Shahid Sales, ALi Hatami, Ebrahim Golestan in the pre-revolution era? Ahmadinejad is most capable of film-farsi--which will have its audience; but who cares, those kind of audience are ineffective in any event; they are not the ones who are ready to "stand up" for ANY cause! Pirouz,
How about films of Mehrjooyee, Baizayee, Kimiyayee, Shahid Sales, ALi Hatami, Ebrahim Golestan in the pre-revolution era?

Ahmadinejad is most capable of film-farsi–which will have its audience; but who cares, those kind of audience are ineffective in any event; they are not the ones who are ready to “stand up” for ANY cause!

]]> By: Pedestrian http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33110 Pedestrian Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:10:59 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33110 Pirouz, you gotta watch Hatamikiya's "the glass agency" and "red ribbon". Him and Ahmadreza Darvish are pretty much the only decent storytellers of war. I liked the Taste of Cherry! Have you seen Bani Etemad's "zireh poosteh shahr" or "khoon bazi"? Boutique and "beh hamin sadeghi" were among my other favorites. What an exciting project! Pirouz, you gotta watch Hatamikiya’s “the glass agency” and “red ribbon”. Him and Ahmadreza Darvish are pretty much the only decent storytellers of war. I liked the Taste of Cherry! Have you seen Bani Etemad’s “zireh poosteh shahr” or “khoon bazi”? Boutique and “beh hamin sadeghi” were among my other favorites.
What an exciting project!

]]> By: Pirouz http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33106 Pirouz Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:52:19 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33106 I have the luxury of having a lot of personal time on my hands, and I've been devoting a portion of that to international film watching. Basically, I use movie lists drawn from Wikipedia entries, such as academy award nominations, Iran cinema, intl films of specific genres, etc. Also, whenever, Iranian films are shown on cable TV, which is very infrequently, I watch them. However, I totally avoid the "film farsis" genre. I can't stand almost everything that comes out of Hollywood today, so why in the world would I watch those? So anyway, as I was saying, I acquire suggestions from these lists and go straight to YouTube. If something that interests me isn't there, I check my local library system, which actually might be one of the best systems in the world. I know, that's a bold claim, but everything I've suggested they've purchased. A great setup! In fact, I've yet to find the need for Netflix. I've been working off of the Wikipedia entry "Cinema of Iran", which has a "Timeline of Iranian films" section containing lists of films by decade. The two decades I've focused on are the 1990s and 2000s. I've seen some good films, like "Secret Ballot" , "Son of Maryam", "Children of Heaven", White Balloon","Baran", "Offside". Unfortunately, the last two films I watched, "Taste of Cherry" and "The Wind Will Carry Us", I didn't really care for, particularly the former title. I'm still plugging away on the Wikipedia lists. I drew a blank for complete YouTube uploads of "The Glass Agency" and "Minoo Watch Tower" (which were not on the Wikipedia lists) and they're unavailable at Netflix. Oh well. So Mahmoud wants to be directly involved in art and culture. A hardly reassuring endeavor for a trained engineer (I'm joking here, Ped!) with a zealous religious bend. There's already a shortage of well produced films for people capable of independent thought. I guess there will be just that many fewer. I have the luxury of having a lot of personal time on my hands, and I’ve been devoting a portion of that to international film watching. Basically, I use movie lists drawn from Wikipedia entries, such as academy award nominations, Iran cinema, intl films of specific genres, etc. Also, whenever, Iranian films are shown on cable TV, which is very infrequently, I watch them. However, I totally avoid the “film farsis” genre. I can’t stand almost everything that comes out of Hollywood today, so why in the world would I watch those? So anyway, as I was saying, I acquire suggestions from these lists and go straight to YouTube. If something that interests me isn’t there, I check my local library system, which actually might be one of the best systems in the world. I know, that’s a bold claim, but everything I’ve suggested they’ve purchased. A great setup! In fact, I’ve yet to find the need for Netflix.

I’ve been working off of the Wikipedia entry “Cinema of Iran”, which has a “Timeline of Iranian films” section containing lists of films by decade. The two decades I’ve focused on are the 1990s and 2000s. I’ve seen some good films, like “Secret Ballot” , “Son of Maryam”, “Children of Heaven”, White Balloon”,”Baran”, “Offside”. Unfortunately, the last two films I watched, “Taste of Cherry” and “The Wind Will Carry Us”, I didn’t really care for, particularly the former title. I’m still plugging away on the Wikipedia lists.

I drew a blank for complete YouTube uploads of “The Glass Agency” and “Minoo Watch Tower” (which were not on the Wikipedia lists) and they’re unavailable at Netflix. Oh well.

So Mahmoud wants to be directly involved in art and culture. A hardly reassuring endeavor for a trained engineer (I’m joking here, Ped!) with a zealous religious bend. There’s already a shortage of well produced films for people capable of independent thought. I guess there will be just that many fewer.

]]> By: Pedestrian http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33101 Pedestrian Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:58:52 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33101 I really liked Mousavi's movie too, it wasn't "in your face" ... it was soft, and subtle. But after everyone kept saying how "convincing" Ahmadinejad's film had been in the provinces, if it was indeed, I kept thinking why didn't Mousavi make one like that too? But you really are on an optimistic note today, won't argue ;-) I know! I meant that I loved the book so much that I never placed the movie in the category of "spiderman/batman/fascist films". But I guess you <I>could</I> put it there very well. I really liked Mousavi’s movie too, it wasn’t “in your face” … it was soft, and subtle. But after everyone kept saying how “convincing” Ahmadinejad’s film had been in the provinces, if it was indeed, I kept thinking why didn’t Mousavi make one like that too?

But you really are on an optimistic note today, won’t argue ;-)

I know! I meant that I loved the book so much that I never placed the movie in the category of “spiderman/batman/fascist films”. But I guess you could put it there very well.

]]> By: naj http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33099 naj Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:55:41 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33099 re LOTR: it was yoru favorite "book", I was talking about the movie! :) re LOTR: it was yoru favorite “book”, I was talking about the movie! :)

]]> By: naj http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33098 naj Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:53:58 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33098 I think Mousavi had very nice and "convincing" video--he convinced me ;). In fact, Ahmadinejad started making his films AFTER Mousavi did! He just copied! And look, Ahmadinejad can convince people with the "right message" ... but he ACTS against the message of his videos; and that's where he falls in the pit! So let him dig his grave deeper--teaching people to stand-up for truth; that's what he preaches, right? Let people learn! He cannot "convert" Iranians who already "hate" him; he wants a media war? Let him bring it on, baby! :) I think Mousavi had very nice and “convincing” video–he convinced me ;) . In fact, Ahmadinejad started making his films AFTER Mousavi did! He just copied!

And look, Ahmadinejad can convince people with the “right message” … but he ACTS against the message of his videos; and that’s where he falls in the pit! So let him dig his grave deeper–teaching people to stand-up for truth; that’s what he preaches, right? Let people learn!

He cannot “convert” Iranians who already “hate” him; he wants a media war? Let him bring it on, baby! :)

]]> By: Pedestrian http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33091 Pedestrian Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:58:31 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33091 That's what my cousin told me: it's not hard at all to make a film like this. But if it's not, why didn't the other 3 do it too? ( I know it's a nasty enterprise to engage in, but they were dealing with one nasty opponent!) The other movies were informative, but nowhere near as influential or convincing. Lord of the Rings too? But that was my favorite childhood book :-/ You see the bright side to everything! I'm just scared of all the minds he may screw with. If he's going to take over the movie industry, the greens REALLY need a medium of their own. That’s what my cousin told me: it’s not hard at all to make a film like this. But if it’s not, why didn’t the other 3 do it too? ( I know it’s a nasty enterprise to engage in, but they were dealing with one nasty opponent!) The other movies were informative, but nowhere near as influential or convincing.

Lord of the Rings too? But that was my favorite childhood book :-/

You see the bright side to everything! I’m just scared of all the minds he may screw with. If he’s going to take over the movie industry, the greens REALLY need a medium of their own.

]]> By: naj http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33088 naj Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:54:32 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33088 Ped, propaganda film has a formula. If someone has read enough on Russia's Eisenstein, Montage theory, and has watched enough German films, one can produce them easily--look that is how Hollywood has become the second greatest export out of America--second to weapons only. You may recall that during the Iraq war and Bush, there was a notable increase in what I call "fascist-films", like Lord of the Ring, V for Vandetta, King Kong, Superman, Batman, Spiderman and etc. These films become see-through after a while! Let Ahmadinejad take over the film industry--this in fact doesn't make me too unhappy! Cinema is an expensive adventure--let him invest in it; we need technology and equipment for it--in due time, we will take it back! Ped,
propaganda film has a formula. If someone has read enough on Russia’s Eisenstein, Montage theory, and has watched enough German films, one can produce them easily–look that is how Hollywood has become the second greatest export out of America–second to weapons only.

You may recall that during the Iraq war and Bush, there was a notable increase in what I call “fascist-films”, like Lord of the Ring, V for Vandetta, King Kong, Superman, Batman, Spiderman and etc. These films become see-through after a while! Let Ahmadinejad take over the film industry–this in fact doesn’t make me too unhappy! Cinema is an expensive adventure–let him invest in it; we need technology and equipment for it–in due time, we will take it back!

]]> By: Pedestrian http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780&cpage=1#comment-33084 Pedestrian Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:48:19 +0000 http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=1780#comment-33084 supp, my cousin is a documtary film maker in Iran, and since you have to get the approval of about a dozen different places for each 5 minute movie, I get a sense of the atmosphere year by year looking at the ups and downs of her work. Irrespective of Europe, the 4 year Ahmadinejad cultural ministry has been a catastrophe for a lot of film makers. EVEN to the IRI's standards. The only movies that get permission are the cheesey "film farsis" which have have come a long way since the days of "ganj-e gharoon" and must now always feature a Mercedez and a couple of BMWs. As for Hatamikiya, I found his last movie (be nam-e pedar) particularly disappointing, and this one has a plagiarized name too, so I'm not holding my breath or anything. Naj, that scared me b/c Ahmadinejad's films were GOOD, they were VERY, VERY conniving and for people who have no access to other voices, they could in fact be convincing too. supp, my cousin is a documtary film maker in Iran, and since you have to get the approval of about a dozen different places for each 5 minute movie, I get a sense of the atmosphere year by year looking at the ups and downs of her work.
Irrespective of Europe, the 4 year Ahmadinejad cultural ministry has been a catastrophe for a lot of film makers. EVEN to the IRI’s standards. The only movies that get permission are the cheesey “film farsis” which have have come a long way since the days of “ganj-e gharoon” and must now always feature a Mercedez and a couple of BMWs.
As for Hatamikiya, I found his last movie (be nam-e pedar) particularly disappointing, and this one has a plagiarized name too, so I’m not holding my breath or anything.

Naj, that scared me b/c Ahmadinejad’s films were GOOD, they were VERY, VERY conniving and for people who have no access to other voices, they could in fact be convincing too.

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