What I liked most about the film might also be what kept me from fully immersing in it. I appreciate the production design, with rich visuals, symbols, and bright, carefully crafted settings. But the overwhelming focus on aesthetics may have created a sense of distance for me, making the experience less engaging. The opening is intense and effective, but once the story reaches the commune, the pace slows down, and the rituals take center stage, pushing the protagonist’s emotional journey…
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A Traveler's Needs 2024
We get to know the protagonist purely in the present, without any explanations about her past or promises for the future. Her lightness and unpredictability stand in contrast to the structured, pragmatic nature of those around her, sparking curiosity and even suspicion—especially from the mother of the young poet she shares an apartment with. We, too, find ourselves wanting to know more about her, but perhaps the film suggests that this need for context is our own unease at play—as…
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Goodbye First Love 2011
The second act, when Camille is already at architecture school, is my favorite part of the film. Human constructions deteriorate, some transform, and few remain as they were originally conceived. In the same way, how many solid and lasting relationships, like the walls of that country house in Ardèche, have crumbled over time? It’s interesting that in such an intimate film, the script takes a step back at one point and dedicates itself so thoughtfully to the filmed space, even…
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Before Summer Ends 2017
The director met Arash, Hossein, and Ashkan after overhearing them speak in Iranian at a bar in Paris, and from that moment on, she started filming them. It’s hard to distinguish what’s real and what’s fictional here. Themes like belonging, loneliness, memory, and religion emerge in fragmented pieces through road-trip conversations, without much depth. After all, a week is often not enough time for deep issues to be resolved, much less in seven summer days. The sunlit landscapes and calm of the French villages don’t quiet the characters’ inner turmoil, but they bring a refreshing feeling to the three friends that is a joy to watch.
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