Baran

Despite my sympathy with the themes of the film, the execution has left this a bit of a lesser film each time I've seen it. In general, there is a kind of literalness to the whole thing that screams MESSAGE. Too much slow motion photography and too much sentimental music underline this approach. That said, the idea of finding empathy for Afghan immigrants, of trading in one's identity for the sake of someone else, and the look at the immigrant community at all make this worth a look.

A great drama/love story from excellent Iranian director Majidi. Pretty good character development, where Lateef becomes from lazy boy to very caring person.

Baran was one of two successful Iranian movies released in 2001 with an Afghan theme, the other being Makhmalbaf's Kandahar which actually takes place there, and I really like that eastward squint in both. Majid Majidi makes simplistic and somewhat slight films that use a bit of naked sentimentality as a crutch, which to me makes him a second-rate Iranian director, but Baran is alright. It's certainly not bad.

about other people.

Loved it.......:)

"Baran is shockingly devoid of your typical Majid Majidi shoe-loving, crippled children." - Ed Gonzalez