Salaam Cinema

It was fantastic seeing everyday people try to achieve their dreams of acting, or involvement film. Even seeing someone getting killed on film was jaw dropping. That thought will never leave my head. Makhmalbaf does great in this film.

gave up after half an hour. putting people into such situations irritated me. art is "for" the people, not the other way around. individuals are not instruments. I know that I come to hasty conclusions but I don't know, I don't care. I guess I am not interested in such a "glorification" of the "art" of cinema in that way.

04.16 Erkan

my take is that girls have so much screen time because they are the biggest rebels and revolt is what makhmalbaf aspires the most and this is what (is supposed to, at least) justify his mind games

Very good and surprisingly entertaining, but it's nowhere near A Moment of Innocence. It's pretty much Makhmalbaf goading people chosen for a screen test into getting frustrated and arguing with him. There are some great moments here and there, mostly funny but a couple of sympathetic ones too, and there is an interesting undercurrent of examination into ambition and personal resolve. But as a whole it's too self satisfied with the concept to push it into something really spectacular.

A very, very cynical look at cinema (what better way to celebrate it's 100th birthday) which suits how I feel about movies these days. The realisations of these people's motives to get into the film is heart-breaking and shows how important film productions are in countries like these. A real eye-opener, but I should point out that's it's not all gloomy and there are some real laugh-out-loud moments.

A diabolical concept, but so very effective: Makhmalbaf deliberately blurs the line between actor and amateur applicant. The audition becomes the movie and we get to see the confusion of the auditioned as they're told this. It's hard to absolve the director toying with them like a cat with its prey, but just as hard not to revel in their reactions and to feel for them.