«Gabbeh» is the first movie from Iran that I saw. And I'm so happy because since then, I've seen 5 or 6 and all of them were to my eyes excellent.

This movie is simple, poignant and beautiful. It's poetic and magic at the same time. The visual is also fantastic. Truly enchanting.

Out of 100, I gave it 87.

Mystic Iranian pic is at once a treat and an elusive puzzle. Just what writer/director Makhmalbaf was trying to say here is a complete mystery to me, such is his intricate use of symbolism and suggestion. Perhaps this is a reflection of age old Iranian culture, but it is a culture I have precious little understanding of.

Our director has woven a tale as tightly as the Gabbehs the film seems to be about. Occassinally fascination draws you in, but mostly one is left admiring the scenery and the unusual style.

Cameraman Mahmoud Kalri captures the attention, and Hossein Maharami's turn as a lovelorn old man is a most amusing one.

Monday, June 1, 1998 - Hoyts Croydon

This film was selected as the Iranian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, but was not nominated, but I found out about it because it featured in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. A "gabbeh" is a type of Persian rug, usually crafted by women, and much thicker and coarser than other carpets. An elderly couple (Hossein Moharami and Rogheih Moharami) carry their gabbeh to the river wanting to wash it. When the rug is spread on the ground, referred to as Gabbeh (Shaghayeh Djodat), magically comes out of it. Gabbeh belongs to the clan whose history is depicted in the design of the carpet, and it follows her story, including her Uncle (Abbas Sayah) who is hoping to find a bride, and she is longing herself to find a young man she hopes to marry. Throughout it also sees the nomads crafting of the carpets, from shearing the sheep, the spinning and dyeing of wool, and the making of gabbehs. There is not much story as such, it is more about seeing country traditions, apparently this film was banned by Iran for being "subversive", I just remember it because of the colourful clothing of the people, the making of the Persian rugs, and the landscapes, so this is enough to make it a watchable fantasy documentary drama. Good!