“Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb’s startling documentary depicts a day in Panahi’s life as he appeals his conviction for “propaganda against the system” — which carries with it a jail sentence and a twenty-year ban from writing or directing.”
Part of the masters programme, the film is free admission. Nice to see the festival putting aside its usual 22 odd bucks to serve a cause and support an artist that is forced into silence by an oppressive regime.
TIFF co-director, Cameron Bailey explained that the film was made under very special circumstances. It was smuggled out of the country on a USB key. Its very special message has to reach as many people as possible, Bailey said.
The film is Jafar Panahi going through the day in his downtown Tehran apartment awaiting news on his upcoming trial. The ban preventing him to create weighs heavily on him. His impulse is too great and sets out to secretly make a film anyway. He calls his friend and documentarian Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and the film takes off.
With his iguana “Igi” meandering about the Persian rug and climbing a bookcase, Panahi attempts to “tell” the film that resulted in his conviction with the help of masking tape. He creates the perimeter of the story’s location. The task gradually moves him to tears until he abandons it to watch the news, talk to a visiting neighbor, take a few more calls about his case to finally take an elevator ride down to the ground floor accompanied by an unemployed Art student taking out the trash. The story is simple. Very simple, but a rather telling portrait of his predicament.
Bailey said there was no Q&A as Mojtaba Mirtahmasb’s passport was revoked on his way to Toronto.