mOVie friDAy. 01

                                            +++ +++ +++ Hi, here is my first MOvieFriday post.


    Chicken with Plums (Poulet aux prunes in the original French version) is a film based on the graphic novel by Iranian author Marjane Satrapi. It takes place in November 1958 in Iran and narrates the last eight days of the life of Nasser Ali Khan, a famous tar player- apparently Satrapi’s relative. 
Nasser Ali cannot find any joy in his life since the moment his favorite violin gets broken by his wife and therefore decides to let himself die. 

The story slowly unriddles revealing that behind his pain other bigger sorrows are hidden: the frustration for a wedding forced upon himself by his mother, an important love story that failed him and maybe a nostalgic feeling for a society which is not existing anymore. In a way the film can be seen as a metaphor of the despair of progressive Iranians in regards of the huge changes in their country.

{ Splendid Isabella Rossellini plays as Nasser Ali's mother }

{Mastroianni's daughter Chiara plays Nasser Ali's daughter as an adult woman }

I enjoyed how this colorful sad story is told: through short flashbacks, sometimes melancholic, sometimes funny, with realistic bits crossing with surreal parts, traditionally filmed parts with animated parts. It’s a fascinating tale, in which I could fully recognize Marjane Satrapi’ grace in confronting difficult subjects and her soft ironic spirit.  The picture that follows is one of her I like very much.

If you don’t know her previous work Persepolis (graphic novel first and later an animated film) I definitely recommend to read it and watch it as well.

+++ +++ +++

If you did see Chicken with Plums or will go to see it, come back and tell me about it, I'd like to hear from you.In the meantime I wish you a nice weekend and see you next friday.