Annual Festival of Films from Iran

About the Event

Schedule of Events

8:30 p.m: Close Up

"Neither a documentary nor a drama but a provocative, unconventional merging of the two, a meditation on perplexities of justice, social inequity, and personal identity that also subtly interrogates the processes and purposes of cinema." - Godfrey Cheshire, Criterion Collection

"The definitive film-on-film commentary." - Ed Gonzalez, Slant

"Kiarostami's film has artichoke-like layers which, once peeled, are forever resonant." - Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

Kiarostami uses real-life events as the basis for a stunning, multilayered investigation into cinema and identity. Blurring the line between documentary and fiction, CLOSE UP tells the story of Hossein Sabzian, who impersonates Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf to deceive a family into believing he is directing a movie, and that they will be the stars. As Sabzian's story unfolds, Kiarostami weaves real footage with reenactments (using the real family members as actors, now, in a poetic move, indeed in a film). A revealing mediation on the intersection of life and art, CLOSE UP is arguably Kiarostami's most revered title; and the filmmaker is arguably one our most revered: his work graces the Film Center screens on an almost-yearly basis.

Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Film, Montreal Festival of New Cinema
Winner - FIPRESCI Prize, Istanbul Film Festival

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