Yek shab (2005)

Director:

Niki Karimi

Writers:

Mahmoud Aiden (idea)
Niki Karimi (writer)

Release Date:

4 January 2006 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

On her way home one night, a young working girl who lives alone with her mother is asked to go sleep at her friend's house. She wanders all night in Teheran and meets three men who have different stories. |

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Hanie Tavassoli	...	Negar
Saeed Ebrahimifar
Nader Torkaman
Abdolreza Fakhar

Also Known As:

One Night (International: English title)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

Iran

Language:

Persian

Color:

Color

Company:

Sazeman Cinmai 79-Jahan

Minimal at it's best !

I saw this movie at the int. film-festival in Gent (oct. '05) and to be honest: these are the kinds of movies that make U visit a festival.

Filmed without permission from the government according to Dogme principles (no artificial light, no sets, only sound when it plays at location) in the tradition of neorealism (important Italian cinema-wave of the '40s-'50s).

One night is urban road movie about One Night in Teheran. It tells the story of Negar, a young woman who works as a clerk office. One night, when she returns from work, her mother asks her to go sleep at a friends place because she expects a guest. This is where the movie starts. Negar, unable to locate her boyfriend, she decides to walk through the streets of Teheran and accepts three rides doing so. During each ride the (male) driver tells about their life, they confess things to her. The third confession turns out to be rather chocking...

Each confession (focussed on relationships and the position of women in Iran) gives a good insight in the way of living (and thinking) in Teheran. The movie moves at a rather slow pace and is very minimal (especially in the end). The three cars in the movies and the streets of Teheran are the main locations in this movie that is very dark since it is shot at night.

Personally I absolutely adored this movie, I thought it was one of the better ones of the 18 movies I saw at the Gent festival and even one of the best of 2005.

Iran is consistently producing superb movies. 'Yek Shab' ('One Night') seems highly influenced by Abbas Kariostami, especially his acclaimed movie 'Ten'.

If U like minimal or would like to know more about the society in Iran then don't miss this when U have the chance to see this fascinating movie. Niki Karimi, a female director (which is not easy in the Middle-East) is undoubtedly highly talented. Shooting this movie was all but trouble free without a permit. 10/10