★★★☆☆ Pushing Iranian cinema into a new stratosphere, Vahid Vakilifar's Taboor (2012) is a bleak and meditative study of a society rotting from the inside out. Vakilifar takes us through the streets of Tehran, charting the nocturnal activities of an enigmatic man (Mohammad Rabbanipour) clad in a tinfoil suit that protects his hypersensitive body from harmful microwaves. Eerily claustrophobic, Taboor takes the narrative framework of science-fiction and strips it of the spectacle and grandeur normally associated with the genre. Clad entirely in foil, the film opens in a small trailer that's currently our protagonist's make-shift home.
It's here that we witness the man's ritualistic preparations for his evenings of work as a pest control operative across a myriad of contrasting locations. He appears to be eradicating the city of cockroaches, yet his nighttime excursion also lead him to other, more surreal destinations: a ride on a 5D simulator at a local...
It's here that we witness the man's ritualistic preparations for his evenings of work as a pest control operative across a myriad of contrasting locations. He appears to be eradicating the city of cockroaches, yet his nighttime excursion also lead him to other, more surreal destinations: a ride on a 5D simulator at a local...
- 6/21/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
A man (Mohammad Rabbanipour) who lives in a rectangular room wallpapered in aluminum foil gets dressed in an aluminum foil jumpsuit before he begins his day. He hops on a motorbike and heads towards the city. Along the way, the man rides his bike through a long tunnel. This is the first hint of writer-director Vahid Vakilifar's fondness for the journey, as a majority of this nearly silent film focuses on the man's passage from point "A" to point "B"; whether it be a road, hallway, staircase or simulated mine shaft rollercoaster ride, Vakilifar allows these extended scenes to play out in real-time. If there is a reason -- beyond the sheer absurdity of the unbridled mundanity -- it probably has something to do with the passing of time. The most pure example of "slow cinema" that I can think of, we connect with the man and his world...
- 4/26/2013
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Tribeca Film Festival organizers on Wednesday announced 46 of the 89 feature films screening at the New York-set festival starting next month, including selections in the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film sections, as well as out-of-competition Viewpoints screenings.
"Big Men," a documentary about American corporations pursuing oil reserves in Africa, will serve as the opening night film for the World Documentary portion; "Bluebird," a small-town drama featuring "Girls" star Adam Driver, will kick-off the World Narrative slate. "Flex Is Kings," a documentary about Brooklyn street performers, is the Viewpoints opener. All three films premiere on April 18. The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 17 through April 28, with "Mistaken For Strangers," a documentary about The National, serving as the fest's opening night film.
"Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frederic Boyer said in a release. “The cinematic proficiency that...
"Big Men," a documentary about American corporations pursuing oil reserves in Africa, will serve as the opening night film for the World Documentary portion; "Bluebird," a small-town drama featuring "Girls" star Adam Driver, will kick-off the World Narrative slate. "Flex Is Kings," a documentary about Brooklyn street performers, is the Viewpoints opener. All three films premiere on April 18. The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 17 through April 28, with "Mistaken For Strangers," a documentary about The National, serving as the fest's opening night film.
"Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frederic Boyer said in a release. “The cinematic proficiency that...
- 3/5/2013
- by Christopher Rosen
- Huffington Post
The Tribeca Film Festival announced the first half of its 2013 movie slate today, including its World Narrative and Documentary Competition film categories, along with selections from the out-of-competition Viewpoints section, which highlights international and independent cinema. Festival organizers reviewed more than 6,000 submissions to select 89 feature-length films from 30 different countries for this year’s festival, which boasts 53 world premieres. “Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” said Frederic Boyer, Tribeca’s artistic director. “The cinematic proficiency that harnesses this lineup is remarkable and we’re looking forward to sharing these new perspectives, powerful performances,...
- 3/5/2013
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
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