I understand how difficulty you have comprehending the last scene of this movie. I sympathize with you. But this has been deliberate on my part. In "Taste of Cherry" I have tried to keep a distance between my spectator and the protagonist. I didn't want spectators emotionally involved in this film. In this film, I tell you very little about Mr. Badie, I tell you very little about what his life is about, why he wanted to commit suicide, what his story is I didn't want the spectators get engaged in those aspects of his life. For that purpose I had to keep Mr. Badie away from the audience. So he is a distant actor in a way. First I thought to end the movie at the point when he laid down on his grave but later I changed my mind. I was uncomfortable to end it at that point because I was very concerned, and am always concerned, about my spectators. I do not want to take them hostage. I do not want to take their emotions hostage. It is very easy for a flim-maker to control the emotions of spectators but I do not like that. I do not want to see my audience as innocent children whose emotions are easily manipulable.
I was afraid that if I ended the movie where Mr. Badie laid down on his grave the spectator would be left with a great deal of sadness. Even though I didn't think the scene was really that sad, I was afraid that it would come out as such. For that reason I decided to have the next episode where we have the camera running as Mr. Badie was walking around. I wanted to remind spectators that this was really a film and that they shouldn't think about this as a reality. They should not become involved emotionally. This is much like some of our grandmothers who told us stories, some with happy and some with sad endings. But they always at the end would have a Persian saying which went like this "but after all it is just a story!
Surprisingly, far from finding this movie boring, I felt drawn in by vastness of the scenery and the dreariness of it. I also felt the main characters anxiousness and desperation. The Turk and his "pep talk", although earnestly delivered and thought provoking, is the same kind of talk anyone who is contemplating suicide or is depressed gets from others. Sometimes, it can help heal, but other times, it is cruelly lacking in understanding of the depressed mind. Still, a very impactful movie.
Loved the entire movie.i liked how the director ended the movie.it was not something i was expecting to see but i was amused nonetheless.i will definitely be watching more of Iranian films.
I thought it was a terrific film; only thing that bothered me was all the "b-roll" of the car driving everywhere all over the desert; it got boring and distracted from the central themes. Kiarostami has done better in "Close-Up" and "Certified Copy".
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george4mon
I was afraid that if I ended the movie where Mr. Badie laid down on his grave the spectator would be left with a great deal of sadness. Even though I didn't think the scene was really that sad, I was afraid that it would come out as such. For that reason I decided to have the next episode where we have the camera running as Mr. Badie was walking around. I wanted to remind spectators that this was really a film and that they shouldn't think about this as a reality. They should not become involved emotionally. This is much like some of our grandmothers who told us stories, some with happy and some with sad endings. But they always at the end would have a Persian saying which went like this "but after all it is just a story!
ClassicLady
Surprisingly, far from finding this movie boring, I felt drawn in by vastness of the scenery and the dreariness of it. I also felt the main characters anxiousness and desperation. The Turk and his "pep talk", although earnestly delivered and thought provoking, is the same kind of talk anyone who is contemplating suicide or is depressed gets from others. Sometimes, it can help heal, but other times, it is cruelly lacking in understanding of the depressed mind. Still, a very impactful movie.george4mon
that ending annoyed me even more after reading the directors explanation!jbbeebe
Rosenbaum has an interesting interpretation of the ending. It's on the film's wikipedia for anyone interested.Gershwin
I guess this ending was included because of the censors, though Kiarostami doesn't say so.Iron_fist
Loved the entire movie.i liked how the director ended the movie.it was not something i was expecting to see but i was amused nonetheless.i will definitely be watching more of Iranian films.armyofshadows
I thought it was a terrific film; only thing that bothered me was all the "b-roll" of the car driving everywhere all over the desert; it got boring and distracted from the central themes. Kiarostami has done better in "Close-Up" and "Certified Copy".Helmveld
For noach:http://www.iranian.com/Arts/Aug98/Kiarostami/
heat_
Unique film making. This movie is all about an idea and it conveys the idea in such a lean method. Thus I really liked the idea at the end.ganesh
a very good movie with all elements of lifeansver
Unique story with an interesting directing. I wish, I could say the same for acting.reedrothchild
Thanks for ruining that for me noach...