By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Azita Rayeji | Hossain Emadeddin | Kamyar Sheisi
Original language title: Talaye Sorkh
Country: iran
Year: 2004
Running time: 95
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371280/combined
Michael says: “CRIMSON GOLD is the latest film by Iranian director Jafar Panahi (THE CIRCLE) written by Abbas Kiarostami (TEN, A TASTE OF CHERRY.) This circular film examines the class inequities in Iran in a similar way to Panahi’s THE CIRCLE explores gender politics.
“Hussein and Ali deliver pizzas on motorbikes around the city. After rifling the contents of a purse Ali has swiped and finding a receipt, the two are astounded by the amount the purses’ owner paid for a necklace. After being denied access to a posh jeweler’s due to their scruffy appearance, Hussein feels the class differences strongly. His indignation simmer as his job takes him into the lives of the wealthy. After a chance delivery causes Hussein to quite literally become drunk on excess, he can no longer restrain the humiliation and rage burning deep within him.
“This somber piece takes its time to tell its simple story, a common style in Iranian film, but I was fascinated by the characters and their situation. I am slightly perplexed by Panahi’s decision to start the film with the climactic act of the story, thereby sabotaging and surprise at the characters’ actions, but found the circular motion of the story to be ultimately frustrating and disheartening, which I think was the point. As in many other Iranian films, I was struck by the randomness with which the authorities restrained people, offering little explanation to their victims and even less to the audience.
“CRIMSON GOLD is certainly not a light-hearted film, and its moments of humor are few and far between, yet there is something familiar about Hussein and Ali giving the characters an empathy they might otherwise lack. 3 cats”