I don’t write reviews for short films usually, but I will make an exception for “The Accordion” because it is directed by my favourite Iranian filmmaker, Jafar Panahi. I consider myself fortunate to have seen all of his feature films (which, with the exception of “The Circle”, I saw all at MIFF), as he is truly a brilliant director.
“The Accordion” is about a brother and sister who walk around Tehran together playing music, busking for money. The boy plays the accordion, while his sister plays some type of drum. One day while busking, they accidently stumble into the grounds of a mosque, where another man takes offence to them playing their instruments in a forbidden place, and steals the accordion to stop them. The boy’s first instinct is to hurt or kill this man to get this instrument back, and picks up a large rock with this intention. His sister pleads with him to reconsider, however he will not, and goes searching for the man. Eventually they come across the sound of an accordion being played rather poorly, so they investigate to see if it is theirs, which sure enough it is. Before the boy can do anything, the young girl rushes to the man’s side and continues to play her drum to the beat of his playing. Seeing his sister’s actions, gives the boy pause to reflect and he decides to give up his violent path he was about to take, and instead teaches the man how to play the instrument properly, before taking it back and the three of them busk together.
It is such a simple tale which serves as a metaphor on violence, tolerance and hope. It was originally made as part of an omnibus feature entitled “Then and Now: Beyond Borders and Differences” produced by ART for the World in 2010. As is the norm for Jafar Panahi, it is a simple and beautifully told story. Sadly it may also be the last film we ever see from him because in February 2010 Panahi was arrested and charged for “colluding in gathering and making propaganda against the regime”. Panahi, who is an outspoken supporter of Iran’s opposition green movement, was convicted of these charges on the 20 December 2010, and was sentenced to six years jail. Not only that, he was hit with a twenty year ban on making any films, writing any scripts, travelling abroad and also giving any interviews to the media including foreign and domestic news organizations. It is such a disgrace that somebody can essentially lose their lives in Iran for disagreeing with the current regime and protesting against it. Before the sentence was confirmed by a judge, Panahi was quoted as saying “When a filmmaker does not make films it is as if he is jailed. Even when he is freed from the small jail, he finds himself wandering in a large jail.”
Panahi is currently 51 years of age, so by the time the ban is lifted he will be the age of 71, so it is quite possible that we may never see another film from him, which breaks my heart.
3.5 Stars.
Jafar Panahi
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