Blackboards

Is there anything more cinematic, or poignant, than the image of a group of nomad teachers wandering around the mountains of the Iran/Iraq border with blackboards on their backs? For someone who was only twenty when she directed it, Samira Makhmalbaf made a film that director twice her age have been unable to create themselves, a poignant work which emphasises small details and makes them extremely meaningful. Its a tremendous achievement.

8??????????????????????????????????/???????????????????????????????????????????????????Boom?????????????/?????????????????????????????

A generally well-made film that was dragged down for me simply because I found it to be very annoying at times. Not being familiar with the culture shown in this film I'm not sure whether the main characters would qualify as caricatures, but to be honest I did find them very grating throughout the film (and I'm relieved to know that I'm not the only person to respond this way). As a result, despite some admirable qualities, I found it hard to really get onboard with the film.

Nicely narrated. issues in Iran were devastating for the people.

Blackboards has an interesting premise, setting and historical backdrop, and a realism typical of new wave Iranian cinema. It seems to meander though and stop a bit short of Halabja, both literally and figuratively speaking. Occasionally thought-provoking or slightly touching but never follows through on anything.

Hideous. I hoped it to be somewhat interesting but this annoyed me to death. Maybe because it's another culture, but I can't understand why they had to say everything 10 times.

An interesting film, fascinating in it's modest and somewhat mysterious being.