The Past

I was thinking about the similarity between Asghar Farhardi's films and Mike Leigh's; both directors focus on the detailed examination of human relationships, constantly peeling back layers of detail and so revealing new insights into the characters' feelings and motives. So I wasn't surprised to read that some reviewers have made the same comparison. Apparently, Farhardi also uses a long period of rehearsal before starting to shoot. I enjoyed the film but I would have liked a joke occasionally to lighten the mood, which became increasingly depressed as the film went on. Mike Leigh does, I think, give us more laughs. Perhaps an Iranian or French audience would see humour that passed me by?

I just looked back at the feedback comments we had for Farhardi's other films, A Separation and About Elly. Some people commented that those films too were depressing and lacking resolution. I found an interview with Farhadi in which he was asked why A Separation didn't have a proper ending. He said:

"The audience would have been much happier, but they would have forgotten the film. The fact that people still stop me in the streets now, years later, and ask me what happened means that the story didn’t end. People are still worried about her destiny. If I had ended that film with the decision, there would have been a momentary satisfaction, but the way I left it means that audiences will carry the story on with them through their life, in their heart and in their imagination."

See the full interview here: http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/hazlitt/feature/i-dont-really-believe-endings-interview-iranian-director-asghar-farhadi

Tahar Rahim
Did anyone recognise Samir? He was played by Tahar Rahim, who was the lead in Free Men, which we showed in March 2013.

Bérénice Bejo
There's an interview with Bérénice Bejo in the Telegraph in which she talks about Farhardi's film-making and says: 'I'm glad I made Nicole Kidman cry'

Ghormeh Sabzi
My researches have found that the meal Ahmad prepared was Ghormeh Sabzi — a traditional Persian vegetable stew, often said to be the Iranian national dish. It is popular in Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan; traditionally served when family members return home after being away. So, if you have anyone coming home for Christmas, here's the recipe: http://www.oldhallpersian.co.uk/recipes/ghormeh-sabzi/





Feedback score was 84%:

A	Intense!
A	Very moving!
A	Incredible, moving film. All for the love.
A	Thought provoking. Excellent acting (children too)
A
A	Exhausting
A	A fine film. Intense, harrowing in places but redeemed by some tenderness. Those poor children!
A	Intense and relentless, just like some relationships are.
B	Well acted especially by the children. V. emotional but long in parts.
B	Very interesting story. The casts are very good. The ending not expected!!
B	Interesting but too long.
B
B
B	Good storyline, but a bit disjointed & left a few ends hanging. EG had the boy stained the dress? Seems like a rather sad story.
B	Similar stories happen so many times. A number of loose ends needed clarification.
B	Superb performances and direction. However, over-long and rather slow to reach its conclusion.
B	Dysfunctional family lives are the same the world over. People hurt.
B	An absorbing story with plenty of twists. Very well acted and another bunch of good young performers.
C
C	Well acted but a bit slow. Thought Ahmad was the calm amongst the chaos. Poor children having to listen to all this.
C	A bit disappointing. Tedious.
C

On-line:

IMDB rating 7.9 out of 10:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404461/

Rotten Tomatoes. Audience rating 83%
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/le_passe/

Peter Bradshaw's film of the week  in The Guardian: “a tragedy of good intentions and bad beginnings and wrong decisions that seemed right at the time”
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/mar/27/the-past-review-peter-bradshaw-asghar-farhadi

Robbie Collin in The Telegraph “Farhadi’s genius is in making the past something to be passed on, like an unwanted heirloom: it sits in a cupboard, gathering dust, but is never forgotten.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10064361/The-Past-review.html

Bérénice Bejo interview  “ 'I'm glad I made Nicole Kidman cry'
As The Artist's Bérénice Bejo returns in Asghar Farhadi's moving new film The Past, she tells Robbie Collin how she reduced Hollywood's finest to tears”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10698067/Berenice-Bejo-Im-glad-I-made-Nicole-Kidman-cry.html

Asghar Farhardi interview: "I don’t really believe in endings"
http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/hazlitt/feature/i-dont-really-believe-endings-interview-iranian-director-asghar-farhadi