Wellspring DVD release
Crimson Gold/Talaye sorkh, Jafar Panahi, 2003, Iran, 97 min.
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Crimson Gold tells the story of a great class divide and the harrowing reality of an unjust society. Hussein, a pizza deliveryman, who's deeply aware of the madness going on around him, grows increasingly frustrated to a boiling point following a denial of service at an uppity jewelry store. In short: Life is hard on this ex-soldier as he dwells in the lower strata of the economic ladder and we can feel his alienation and sorrow, despite his stoic demeanor; but luckily, he's got a friend in Ali--a lowly petty thief, who also has a sister, soon to be married to Hussein. But as you'll see, the beginning is the end, and the end is the beginning. Technically, Crimson Gold is very raw in execution, and at the same time professional. There's not a dizzying array of colors, lighting, or special effects, so what you get is almost a faux-umentary style film without a lot of studio pretenses, which is rather refreshing to see. This movie is carried by its dialogue and characters and how they interact with real life scenarios in a third world country (It also helps when Kiarostami writes the script.) And at the end of the day Crimson Gold gives us a glimpse into a cultural identity many can't imagine, yet told in a fashion universal to all of us who can feel its cinematic heartpunch. -Key scenes to look for: *The party goers taken-into-custody scene. *Hussein's struggles in the jewelry store. *My personal favorite: Hussein's pizza delivery to a rich man. 6 out of 6 - Reviewed by Nosferatu's Blood |
