HE

Iran, 2004, 91 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Rahbar Qanbari.

He is a rather devout film. It focuses on an elderly gentleman in a village in the highlands who is asked to become the Mullah for the surrounding regions on the sacred day, Friday. The film shows the Mullah at work in his home, caring for his sick daughter and raising money for her operation in the city, assisting at naming days, weddings, funerals.

The film is done in a very straightforward televisual style, filmed on video. It is not particularly imaginative in its presentation and, while worthy, is often laborious and obvious. It portrays the way of life of people in the mountains - and may appeal to a devout audience, the kind of audience that watches religious channels, for example, in the United States.

1. The intentions of the film, to focus on a good man, a Mullah, the status of Mullahs in Iran, the pastoral needs, his fulfilment of them? His heroism? His ordinariness - and the difficulties, especially with the death of his daughter and the finale and whether he would continue as a Mullah or not?

2. The mountain settings, the opening in the dark, the snow and the search for the child? The Mullah later lost in the snow? The village, the mountains? The contrast with the city?

3. The needs of the village, the people coming to the Mullah, the man with his father's death, the funeral? The naming day? The advice given about the selling of the sick cow? The other matters, disgust, the men in the village, their calling on the Mullah? Their respect for him?

4. His personality, age, experience? Concern about his daughter, the hospital, the money, going to the wealthy Mullah, the young man talking of the five million tomans loan? The village people and their giving money to him? The payment? The sadness of his daughter's death, the funeral?

5. The government, the approach to him to take the job? His decision? The importance for himself, for the people? His donning the Mullah's clothes? His change of attitude, bearing while being the Mullah?

6. The pious aspects of day-by-day Islamic religion, the piety, the prayer, the need for religion in the ordinary happenings of life?