'Close-Up' is minimalist cinema at its near-finest. Abbas Kiarostami follows his unique directing style of 'going with the flow' when it comes to characters rather than draw clear-cut boundaries for each. 'Docufiction' by itself is a hard genre to tap into, and when the concept has been executed well, you get something close to a masterpiece in hand.
One gets a good idea on post-revolution judicial system in Iran as well by watching the film. The formalities involved and explanations given act as an insight for foreign viewers to relate to the functioning of the system. The movie deals with a very sensitive subject of human identity. When the poor Sabzian passes himself off as renowned Iranian film director Makhmalbaf, the Arankah family fall prey to his pretension and end up making blockheads of themselves.
But the more significant thing to observe is how Sabzian feels when he is regarded as a famous personality in a well-off household. He says that his inner self feels stronger and he can get to be a little authoritative when it comes to asking for favors. The climax is a wonderfully executed sequence involving a cheerful bike-ride, a pot of flowers and reconciliation of past differences. Here is a film that does not have to rely on anything 'cinematic' to engage the viewer. 'Close-Up' is an exemplary outcome of minimalist production values and grounded performances. The freshness in treatment is felt throughout.
Verdict: Experimental case-study for genuine cinema-buffs!
One gets a good idea on post-revolution judicial system in Iran as well by watching the film. The formalities involved and explanations given act as an insight for foreign viewers to relate to the functioning of the system. The movie deals with a very sensitive subject of human identity. When the poor Sabzian passes himself off as renowned Iranian film director Makhmalbaf, the Arankah family fall prey to his pretension and end up making blockheads of themselves.
But the more significant thing to observe is how Sabzian feels when he is regarded as a famous personality in a well-off household. He says that his inner self feels stronger and he can get to be a little authoritative when it comes to asking for favors. The climax is a wonderfully executed sequence involving a cheerful bike-ride, a pot of flowers and reconciliation of past differences. Here is a film that does not have to rely on anything 'cinematic' to engage the viewer. 'Close-Up' is an exemplary outcome of minimalist production values and grounded performances. The freshness in treatment is felt throughout.
Verdict: Experimental case-study for genuine cinema-buffs!