Ta'm e Guilass (1997)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 95 minuten
Alternative titles: Taste of Cherry / طعم گيلا
Country:
Iran / France
Directed by: Abbas Kiarostami
Stars: Abdolrahman Bagheri and Afshin Khorshid Bakhtiari
IMDb score:
7,7 (44.196)
Releasedate: 28 September 1997
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Ta'm e Guilass plot
"You want to give up the taste of cherries?"
Badii is determined to commit suicide. He has already dug a grave near Tehran, but is looking for an assistant who will close the grave once the suicide is complete. Although it is a simple task, for which Badii will pay handsomely, he has trouble finding someone who is willing to do it.
Actors and actresses
Mr. Badii
Mr. Bagheri
Soldier
Seminarian
Photographer
Worker
Self
Reviews & comments
Spetie
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- 38871 messages
- 8432 votes
This is a special film by Abbas Kiarostami, but one that I really enjoyed.
I didn't have much trouble getting into the film. The story isn't too complex either. It is essentially just a road movie in which the protagonist seeks out people willing to help him carry out his suicide. That turns out to be more difficult than expected, resulting in a fine piece of cinema. Baddi is a good lead actor in his own right, but the people he meets are at least as interesting. From the young soldier to the old Turk, there is plenty of philosophizing, particularly about the meaning of life. The dialogue is very strong and clearly gives this Taste of Cherry a deeper meaning.
Kiarostami films everything very close to the protagonist. In this way, we as viewers experience virtually the same things as he does. Furthermore, Kiarostami uses a lot of symbolism. On the one hand, this allows the viewer to naturally fill in for themselves how they see or interpret certain matters. On the other hand, this was most likely born out of necessity, as Iran has always had strong censorship. In any case, it is circumvented in a very beautiful way. Additionally, the film itself is quite slow and fairly minimalist, but it captivated me from beginning to end.
The ending is quite odd, by the way, and disappointed me a tad, even though I fully understand that this, too, was born out of necessity. But otherwise, I am quite impressed, and despite the gloomy subject matter, this is an extremely fine road movie with minimalist yet very strong direction.
4.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
-
- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
An interesting film that brings the theme of suicide and complicity in it to the forefront. Add to that the pigment of Islamic religious culture, and you are treading on very slippery religious ice. But apart from the religious factor, it is a dilemma that is presented regardless. Whether you are bought off or not, could you simply accept the fact that you know in advance that someone is going to commit suicide, but that you do nothing to prevent or signal it? Is this not punishable under our legal system (culpable negligence)? I am inclined to think so.
The film does indeed start quite vaguely. The theme of suicide is only addressed later, when the film is already quite advanced, and even then it is described somewhat and rarely stated literally. The reasons why and the circumstances are not revealed. Kiarostami focuses more on the interpersonal contacts and dialogues, sometimes spontaneous and later uncomfortable when the truth is revealed.
Minimalist cinema in a sort of road movie, constantly filmed from inside the car. Difficult, but good camerawork. Nice!
Translated from Dutch · View original
El Loco
-
- 1275 messages
- 2521 votes
After a very pleasant introduction to Kiarostami's oeuvre with Where is My Friend's House?, it was time for this, at first glance somewhat dark film.
The concept of a man seeking someone to assist him in completing his suicide (or to help him out of the grave if he is still alive) is very interesting. It results in a short film where the majority takes place in Mr. Badii's car and focuses primarily on the dialogues with the various potential helpers.
Kiarostami's choice to leave the motive for the suicide open leaves a mixed feeling. On the one hand, Mr. Badii and his past remain mysterious and you, as a viewer, can fill in the blanks yourself, but on the other hand, I also felt a bit distant towards him.
The landscape shots Kiarostami serves up to us—with the vast desert, mountains of sand, and excavators—fit the film's theme perfectly. In that respect, he manages to charm me again after Where is My Friend's House? But overall, I rate this Taste of Cherry a notch lower.
3*
Translated from Dutch · View originalLatest News
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