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Close-Up

Original title: Nema-ye nazdik
  • 1990
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Abolfazl Ahankhah, Mehrdad Ahankhah, Hossain Farazmand, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, and Hossain Sabzian in Close-Up (1990)
DocudramaBiographyCrimeDrama

The true story of Hossain Sabzian, a cinephile who impersonated the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf to convince a family they would star in his so-called new film.The true story of Hossain Sabzian, a cinephile who impersonated the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf to convince a family they would star in his so-called new film.The true story of Hossain Sabzian, a cinephile who impersonated the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf to convince a family they would star in his so-called new film.

  • Director
    • Abbas Kiarostami
  • Writer
    • Abbas Kiarostami
  • Stars
    • Hossain Sabzian
    • Mohsen Makhmalbaf
    • Abolfazl Ahankhah
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    25K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Abbas Kiarostami
    • Writer
      • Abbas Kiarostami
    • Stars
      • Hossain Sabzian
      • Mohsen Makhmalbaf
      • Abolfazl Ahankhah
    • 70User reviews
    • 58Critic reviews
    • 92Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos46

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    Top cast16

    Edit
    Hossain Sabzian
    Hossain Sabzian
    • Hossain Sabzian (Bazigar)
    Mohsen Makhmalbaf
    Mohsen Makhmalbaf
    • Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Kargardan)
    Abolfazl Ahankhah
    • Abolfazl Ahankhah (Pedar-e Khanevadeh)
    Mehrdad Ahankhah
    • Mehrdad Ahankhah (Pesar-e Ahankhah)
    Nayer Mohseni Zonoozi
    • Nayer Mohseni Zonoozi (Hamsar-e Ahankhah)
    Ahmad Reza Moayed Mohseni
    • Ahmad Reza Moayed Mohseni (Doost-e Ahankhah)
    Hossain Farazmand
    • Reporter
    Mahrokh Ahankhah
    • Self
    Monoochehr Ahankhah
    • Self
    Haj Ali Reza Ahmadi
    • Judge
    Mohammad Ali Barrati
    • Soldier
    Davood Goodarzi
    • Sergeant (Darajeh dar)
    Abbas Kiarostami
    Abbas Kiarostami
    • Self
    Hassan Komaili
    • Court Recorder
    Davood Mohabbat
    • Court Recorder
    Hooshang Shamaei
    • Taxi Driver (Ranande-ye Ajans)
    • Director
      • Abbas Kiarostami
    • Writer
      • Abbas Kiarostami
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the final scene outside the jail when Sabzian is surprised and touched to meet the real director he had been impersonating, Mohsan Makhmalbaf, we don't hear most of their talk because (we're told) the sound equipment was faulty. In reality, Kiarostami just didn't want to leave the dialogue in, because it didn't come off well: Sabzi was genuinely moved to meet his idol and spoke from his heart, but Makhmalbaf was just repeating scripted lines, so the dialogue didn't work.
    • Goofs
      When Sabzian and Makhmalbaf meet, there is a bundle in Sabzian's hand. He gets on the motorbike with the bundle in his hand. Later on, during their ride on the motorbike, the bundle is not there any more.
    • Crazy credits
      The film's title doesn't appear on screen until almost sixteen minutes into the film.
    • Connections
      Featured in Stardust Stricken - Mohsen Makhmalbaf: A Portrait (1996)

    User reviews70

    Featured review
    8/10

    Art Imitating Life...

    You've been in court, for being someone that you're not, under a light that's put you right under the spot, a cinema director, or a fraudulent prospector, against a family who perceived your foolish plot. But events then take a turn, become surreal, as endeavours are inscribed on cine reel, re-enacting your conviction, with the family of victims, you play the lead in your own life and their ordeal.

    An imaginative and inspired way to portray the events that the Ahankhah family went through when Hossain Sabzian decided to take on the persona of a well-known Iranian film director, with the cast playing themselves for the most part.
    • Xstal
    • Jan 12, 2023
    • Permalink

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Close-Up?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 30, 1991 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • Iran
    • Official site
      • sourehcinema
    • Languages
      • Persian
      • Azerbaijani
    • Also known as
      • Primer plano
    • Filming locations
      • Tehran, Iran
    • Production companies
      • Kanun parvaresh fekri
      • Kanun parvaresh fekri
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,670
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,670
      • Jan 2, 2000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Abolfazl Ahankhah, Mehrdad Ahankhah, Hossain Farazmand, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, and Hossain Sabzian in Close-Up (1990)
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    By what name was Close-Up (1990) officially released in Canada in French?
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