“Alongside A Separation it [About Elly] will only enhance Asghar Farhadi’s reputation as a film maker of technical brilliance and serious moral inquiry.” Anthony Quinn, The Independent
From writer/director Asghar Farhadi (A Separation, showing 23 Sept), a similarly carefully observed study of constrained domestic lives. A group of middle-class, professional young Iranians arrange a weekend by the sea, inviting along the little-known young teacher, Elly, with the intention of matchmaking. Propriety requires that they say that Elly is married, a lie that comes back to haunt the group when she disappears without trace, presumed drowned.
Sharing with A Separation the same careful development of character, motivation and the impact of fundamentalism, About Elly is as rich and rewarding. Just when we feel we know and understand the characters, unexpected events expose the shared deceits that sometimes bind people together in common cause. And also like A Separation, this was a Golden Bear award winner at the Berlin Film Festival.
Also part of our unofficial programme of Middle Eastern film this week is a short selection of new film, Unveiled Visuality on Mon 24 September, providing a guided introduction to some of the most interesting film makers in the area.
