It's an Iranian film, and an excellent one at that. I loved it the first time I saw it. I loved it even more this time. I saw a lot of things I hadn't noticed last time, and I was able to recognise elements that foreshadowed later parts of the narrative. There was so much depth and tension to the characters and their relationships. And there was so much that was told without being said. Good direction, pacing, setting, dialogue, script and writing. A great cast with fine performances. And Leila Hatami is absolutely stunning.
Once again I wondered about certain events in the film and the cultural significance they might hold for Iranian viewers. But for now I'll just have to accept that I won't catch all the nuances the film-maker created.
I learned a lot about storytelling from this movie. I also realised that an excellent story doesn't have to follow a standard formula. But then like much in the arts, I suppose you need to know the rules before you can break them.
And already I have ideas to try and transfer into my own writing.
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