Iran / 1973 / 114 min.
Director: Amir NADERI
Iran / 1974 / 75 min.
Director: Amir NADERI
A film produced by The Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children, Young Adults which became the home to NADERI's film productions. Set at a seaside village looking out on the Persian Gulf, the film depicts the turmoil caused by children arguing over the ownership of a harmonica. The children's dispute surrounding the harmonica is obviously a dispute over authority in the children's world and can be seen as a metaphor giving piercing insight into an authoritarian political system. In that sense, though created as a children's film, stating "Harmonica" far and away surpasses the children's film category would not be an exaggeration. A masterpiece amply demonstrating NADERI's genius as an auteur with its documentary-like cinematography of people living in southern Iran and its portrayal of the vivacious children.
Iran / 1974 / 43 min.
Director: Amir NADERI
Produced by The Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children, Young Adults, the mid-length "Waiting" is an exquisite film perfectly conforming to the phrase "visual poem". The setting is a village in southern Iran looking out onto the Persian Gulf. Without a distinct story, the film depicts the actions of a young boy who is attempting to bring home a glass vessel filled with ice before it melts. However, this profile of a protagonist who behaves with a single-mindedness as if possessed by something is surely to be called the model for the protagonists in NADERI's works including, obviously, "The Runner" (1985) as well as "CUT" (2011) and "Mountain" (2016). The depiction of the religious ceremonies the young boy stumbles upon is also fascinating. The film has not been screened since the special program "Iranian Cinema Before the Islamic Revolution" held at Tokyo FILMeX 2003.
USA / 2018 / 102 min.
Director: Ramin BAHRANI, Scriptwriter: Amir NADERI
A remake of Francois TRAUFFAUT's film adaptation of Ray BRADBURY's science fiction novel 'Fahrenheit 451' by "99 Homes" director Ramin BAHRANI. An Iranian director living in the U.S., BAHRANI co-wrote the script with the person he respects as his mentor, Amir NADERI. The protagonist is Guy, a fireman who burns books in a world where reading is prohibited. "Black Panther" actor, Michael B. Jordan, delivers a solid performance of Guy's conflict regarding the virtuousness of his actions. Also noteworthy is Michael SHANNON's ("Shape of Water") highly realistic portrayal of the fireman captain. World premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
USA / 2018 / 88 min.
Director: Amir NADERI
Mitch is a 22-year-old projectionist who works at an aging movie theater that will shortly close down. He decides to screen one last film there before it is rebuilt as a multiplex theater. Looking out from the projection booth's window, he can see another Mitch on the screen. There, his other self is a clerk at a small shop living a dull existence, but that life is changed by the appearance of a young girl who comes to buy a hat. However, the young girl is called away by someone on a mobile phone and disappears.... The new film by Amir NADERI is the first since "Vegas" (2008) to be shot in America. Blending reality with fantasy as well as homages to cinema, it could be called a modern day fairy tale. The appearance of Jacqueline BISSET is also a highlight.
