The Wind Will Carry Us (1999)
Kiarostami’s films are always very open for interpretation and filled with symbolism. I didn’t connect with all the symbolic meanings, but the beautify in the remote village and Iranian landscape always speaks for itself. This feels somewhat similar to Life, and Nothing More with a “city person” arriving in a remote village where life is a lot more primitive, but also calmer. Throughout the film the engineer struggles with connecting with this village even though he is open minded and friendly. From practical quite hilarious problems of not getting a proper mobilephone signal, having to quickly drive up a tall hill when he gets a call, to his everyday conversations with the villagers that balances on slight misunderstandings. The citylife tempo of needing things to happen clashes with the more primitive but peaceful life out here.
Taste of Cherry and Where Is the Friend’s House? was a lot easier for me to connect with, as they are more character focused and the emotions they conveys are more upfront. This was intriguing in its own right as it is more of an exploration of a “vibe” and portrayal of the village, and less so a personal story. At least the engineer’s character is more in the background, also shown with how it is filmed with plenty of wide shots where the characters are only a small part of the frame.
Rating: 3