KnotMissPriceless
Why so much hype?
Humaira Grant
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Deanna
There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Jithin K Mohan
Farhadi's characters are always so flawed that they make mistakes that will have great consequences yet so humane and relatable that there won't be a single character in the film who we can blame for anything. His skill to bring out the best in his actors is also exemplary, the naturality with which each of them lives in front of the camera is incredible. This is by far his weakest film among the 4 films I've seen and I look forward to exploring the rest of his filmography.
diana-y-paul
THE PAST (LE PASSÉ) was nominated for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or award, the Iranian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award , and a Golden Globe. Directed and written by Asghar Farhadi of "A Separation" fame (winner of the 2011 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film). "The Past" is a a web of intrigue of Rashomon proportions. Everyone tells their version of the truth, but they do not explain everything, and the viewer is puzzled by intentions, motives, and history. As "The Past" unfolds, each character is imprisoned by his or her own version of the past. Opportunities to move forward are constantly threatened by each character's backstory. The past seems to dominate and destabilize, reminding us of our own mistakes and unintended consequences.Read my complete review at www.unhealedwound.com
Vultural ~
Estranged husband arrives from Tehran to give wife her Paris divorce. There, he meets her current - younger - boyfriend de jour. Also the man's son, as well as his wife's daughters by previous marriages. For reasons that are never quite determined, the woman has bounced around a bit. Of course, commitment is always demanding, and adjusting to another culture only adds to the difficulty. Gradually, secrets emerge about the older daughter's fury, and the boyfriend's comatose wife. Not a fun film, but well acted from an intelligent, adult script. Shot in suburbs far from touristy Paris. Nice to see Iranians not cast as terrorists or zealots.
eddie_baggins
Iranian born director Asghar Farhadi's best Foreign Language Oscar winning feature length film from 2011, A Separation (at the time of writing ranked 102 on the IMDb Top 250) created quite the stir upon release, well and truly catapulting Farhadi into the western marketplace as a directing talent to watch. With Farhadi's experience as a playwright, A Separation displayed a deft hand at emotionally resonate and hard hitting dialogue and while personally I felt A Separation was overrated there was no denying its power in many respects. With Farhadi's latest Golden Globe nominated release The Past (or Le passé in its native tongue), this power is even more so present.Once more as with A Separation, patience is required by the audience member to wade through what is a very long and at times unquestionably arduous 130 minute run time with a majority of proceedings taking place within the family home, the scope as a feature film is therefore very limited. While Farhadi's feature is dented by its quite solitary locations (no doubt relating back to his work within the stage production world) there is no denying the large arena in which Farhadi's script takes the participants of the film and us the audience to, in an often home hitting manner.Farhadi's script is in my books a large step up from A Separation and it's fantastically played out by his hugely impressive cast, no more so than everyone's favourite The Artist break out star Berenice Bejo as feisty and determined twice divorced mother figure Marie Brisson. Bejo shows a previously untapped skill in this picture and her performance showcases what could be a future Oscar winning leading lady mastering her craft. Marie is by no means an easy role, she is a hard person to warm to completely but there is enough within that makes her relatable and against all odds likable. Farhadi also struck gold with his casting of the ever good Tahar Rahim (a favourite of mine after his stunning work in A Prophet) as Marie's new squeeze Samir and there is a very impressive performance from teenage actress Pauline Burlet as Marie's daughter Lucie that in a Hollywood picture would have brought her far more plaudits. All these elements combine to make The Past very much a movie deserving to be on your to watch list.As previously mentioned The Past is by no means an easy watch, I would compare it to sitting through A Separation or even Amour in terms of tone and pacing, yet it all comes together to create one of the most simply beautiful film endings in recent memories and a story that will inspire debate amongst film lovers. Once Farhadi combines technical filmmaking to go along with his world class script work the results will be quite mind blowing, yet as it stands there's still a whole lot to like about this talent who seems to have his finger on the pulse of the human condition as good as anyone else out there.3 and a half bottles of perfume out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com
