DVD PICK
Movie: The Song of Sparrows (2008)
Cast: Mohammad Amir Naji, Maryam Akbari, Kamran Dehghan, Hamid Aghazi
Iranian director Majid Majidi is known for his simple and realistic portrayal of real life scenarios with a touch of sentimentalism. “Avaze Gonjeshk-ha” (The Song of Sparrows) is a typical Majidi movie which denounces the capitalistic and money-grabbing society and promotes the bucolic way of life.
Changing character
Karim (Mohammad Amir Naji) becomes a taxi driver in Tehran after he is fired as an ostrich-rancher, in order to repair his elder daughter's hearing aid before her examinations.
But the change in his profession leads to a slow but sure change in character too.
The film showcases the change in Karim from a humble, innocent ostrich-rancher to a taxi driver who is greedy and is materialistic.
His change into a corrupt person is sure to pain you as a viewer and you desperately want the protagonist to become his earlier self.
The cinematography is simply awe-inspiring. Turaj Mansuri, the cinematographer, paints a beautiful Iranian countryside which is bright, colourful and when the scene shifts to Tehran the colours are a bit dull, reflecting the director's take on the two different lifestyles.
The background score by Hossien Alizadeh is just perfect for this film, and one senses that even a Persian version without subtitles is watchable.
Beautiful images
This is certainly not an edge-of the seat thriller but it manages to tug at your heart-strings at the right moment.
Majidi is a wonderful painter of scenes and emotions, with very little dialogue he manages to leave us spellbound by some perfect imagery especially the scene with the hundreds of goldfish flapping around in need of water.
Bottomline: Majidi has once again managed to create a movie with various layers hidden deceptively behind one another. Repeated viewings will make you realise the true beauty of this film.
G. RITESH, Final Year, C.S.E, R.M.D Engineering College
