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Speaker(s): Cécile Tresfels

Winning the 1997 Palme d'Or at Cannes, this film received controversial   reception, whether it is "excruciatingly boring" (Roger Ebert) or a "masterpiece" (Jonathan Rosenbaum). The very slow and reduced narration of the film may indeed be challenging to the audience, but also rewards their patience with a beautiful reflection of life and death. The film’s protagonist Badii (Homayon Ershadi) drives around the outskirts of Tehran looking for someone to help him. Badii offers money in return, but does not say what it is he needs help with. He finally reveals that he wants to kill himself and he needs someone to bury him. Driving in his car looking for help with this particular kind of service Badii has plenty of time to reflect on his plans, and so does the audience.