Last Work of Iranian Filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami Screened in Jakarta
Jakarta. Micro cinema Kinosaurus looked into the life of Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Saturday (24/12) as they screened the director's last work "Take Me Home," followed by a documentary about the auteur, "76 Minutes and 15 Seconds with Abbas Kiarostami."
Kiarostami, who passed away in July at the age of 76 after losing a battle to cancer, was a beloved figure in world cinema for creating poetical pictures. His works were often considered as a form of reflection and meditation as his sensibilities managed to catch simple things that are usually ignored.
Like many of his works, the 16-minute, black and white short film "Take Me Home" is also a depiction of childhood pleasure. The short follows a football as it bounces around the stairs and alleyways in the south of Italy.
Following his death in July, the documentary by photographer — and Kiarostami's long time friend — Seifollah Samadian has been screened in international film festivals such as Venice, Tokyo and Dubai. It shows video footages of Kiarostami's technical decision making — from printing art to creating realistic sound effects for his films — that were taken in various phases of his career. At its best, "76 Minutes" offers an intimate portrayal of Kiarostami and his pursue in cinema as a form of art without any interview format.
Speaking in a discussion after the screening, film critic Hikmat Darmawan said Kiarostami is a master of cinematic poetry and the documentary allows audience to understand his perfectionist side in making pictures.
"He has created a cinematic universe, and every single detail in that universe is stretchable and something that we can revisit overtime, which made him such a special filmmaker. Everyone who has seen his works will always feel the longing to see more of his films," he said.
Kiarostami is known for his minimalist approach in film, which means more poetry and less dialogues, and these were his special contributions in shaping Iranian cinema. Hikmat said Kiarostami's legacy is his ability to create poetry out of his films.
"There is only one Abbas in the world, so we are unable to talk about his successors. His life is now finished, like the ball [in 'Take Me Home'] that finally came home," he said.
Kiarostami made more than 40 films and received over 70 awards in his life. His 1997 drama "Taste of Cherry" was awarded the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival. He had always filmed his works in home country Iran, except for "Certified Copy" in 2010 and "Like Someone in Love" in 2012.
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