Ushering in a new wave of Iranian cinema

Rich in poetry and visual imagery, Darius Mehrjui's films ushered in a modernised era of Iranian new wave cinema.
Ushering in a new wave of Iranian cinema

Rich in poetry and visual imagery, Darius Mehrjui's films ushered in a modernised era of Iranian new wave cinema.

In his eccentric black comedy, Orange Suit, the director paints a rather unconventional and rebellious picture of contemporary Iran.

The movie revolves around a man's obsession to clean up the streets of Tehran. With the desire to purify his mind and soul, Hamed Behdad, a photographer, begins the daunting task of ridding the streets of clutter.

 Inspired by the revolutionary ideas of his son's tutor Navaie, Hamed turns to Feng Shui that affects him deeply and changes his life completely.

 He uses his skills in photography to educate the public on the importance of preserving the environment.

 However, his work does not have any impact on people who continues to litter their surroundings relentlessly.

Soon, his frustration builds and Hamed ends up having a bitter argument with a f a m - ily who go on a littering spree at a park.

Saddened by the situation, he soon decides to forego his career as a photographer and become a street sweeper.

Enticed by the sound of a broom gently caressing the ground, Hamed finds peace and tranquility amidst all the chaos prevalent in his life.

Apart from highlighting the state of utter neglect to the environment, the movie also weaves a gentle tale of a deep father-son bond.

 It also focuses greatly on Hamed's love for his son and his positive attitude towards life.

Hamed's passion for the 'cause' is soon noticed by his fellow janitors and local media who applaud his commitment to environment preservation and hail him as their hero.

However, his wife Nahal, a brilliant mathematician is far from being amused and tries to convince Hamed to move abroad with her.

Her selfishness and utter d i s r e - gard for the relationship between her son and his father is beautifully captured in the film.

Known for his obsession with meticulous detail and precision, Behdad resonates a warm yet scruffy vibe while portraying Hamed's character.

On the other hand, Hatami as Nahal failed to captivate viewers with her performance.

While grappling with an issue as serious as environment destruction, the director adopts a nonchalant narrative style for the portrayal of our grotesque attitude towards nature.

Though Orange Suit is sans any melodrama or intrusive plotlines, the whimsical yet gripping story provides an interesting insight into the vision and mind set of contemporary Iran.

Verdict: Categorised as a part of Iranian new wave cinema, the movie is a fresh take on an 'exhausted' subject like environmental destruction

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The New Indian Express
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