It's Winter (2006)

Director:

Rafi Pitts

Writers:

Mahmoud Dowlatabadi (story)
Rafi Pitts (writer)

Release Date:

15 December 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A neorealist look at living and working conditions on the outskirts of Tehran.

Awards:

8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Mitra Hajjar	...	Khatoun
Ali Nicksaulat	...	Marhab
Said Orkani	...	Ali Reza
Hashem Abdi	...	Moktar
Zahra Jafari	...	Little Girl
Naser Madahi	...	The Boss
Safari Ghassemi	...	Grandmother
Valiollah Sali	...	Mokhtar's boss
Hossein Hadgbegi	...	Cafe owner
Mohammad Nazari	...	Waiter
Leila Solymani	...	Prostitute
Ali Fanaian	...	Policeman

Also Known As:

It's Winter (UK) (USA) (festival title)
Zemestan (Iran: Farsi title)

Runtime:

Brazil:86 min

Country:

Iran

Language:

Persian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (as presented in Dolby Surround Sound) | Dolby SR (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

UK:12A | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

Tehran, Iran

Company:

Celluloid Dreams

Soundtrack:

It's Winter

Long ...

... but not overdue. I was curious to why people here on IMDb loved this movie more than me so I read another review that held this movie high. I respect his view and his vote, but on the other side I can say: Do I have to know the Iranian way of film-making? And what does that even mean? The other Iranian contender at the International Berlin Film Festival was much better, at least one of the top five movies there.

Funnily enough the other movie wasn't well received in Iran (look for the movie "Offside" here on IMDb). But let's concentrate on this movie. The idea of showing a poor country and how people cope with that, is a good one. And thus it's a shame, that there is not a better film here to review. Do you have to make a pessimistic situation more depressing? Do you have to show long dull shots of nothing happening? (that's a tricky one, because I do think that you might need this at least once or twice, but not make the whole movie feel like it's saying nothing ... if you want a "silent" movie that says something, go and watch "Bin-Jip", a masterpiece with little to none dialogue). Is it really a good statement from the director, that he doesn't show us a dialogue here and there (instead opting for long shots, often also showing nothing)? A tragic situation does need to be emphasized (nor does a dull moment, of which there are quite a few here)! Letting the main character repeatedly talking about the same thing, without him doing it, is beyond the point of tolerability.

The movie feels overbearing and pretentious, but I can only speak for myself, when I say that I wouldn't recommend this movie at all.