By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Bahman Farmanara
Starring: Hedye Tehrani | Jamshid Hashempur | Reza Kianian
Original language title: Yek boos-e koochooloo
Country: iran
Year: 2007
Running time: 100
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439889/
Bruce says: “A LITTLE KISS is a poignant essay on aging, friendship, death and dying. Kamal (Jamshid Hashempur) is Iran’s most famous writer. He has a short time left to live and is cared for lovingly by his grandson. His best friend Sa’di (Reza Kianian) is also a writer; years ago he emigrated to Switzerland to protest the government of Iran, leaving his wife and daughters behind.
“One evening Kamal is constantly interrupted as he quietly spends time alone at home. First a neighbor asks him to take her canary for the night because the bird is keeping her awake; next, a neighbor asks to borrow a cup of sugar; finally, Sa’di arrives unannounced from Switzerland. The two old friends stay up late reminiscing with talk of families, health and youthful dreams they once had. Overnight the canary dies. Soon we realize that the woman borrowing the sugar may not have been a neighbor after all, she may be Death.
“A LITTLE KISS is beautifully acted. The two friends have a wonderful rapport. Their fates take on a gentle irony. The man with the more difficult and challenging life dies rewarded and fulfilled. The man who chose the easier path lives on, a tormented soul. Some plot twists arrive unexpectedly, particularly so because this does not seem the type of film to offer surprises. It is hard to believe that this is the Iran we hear portrayed as the axis of evil. 4 cats”