WEDNESDAY, MAY 9/ CHAHARSHANBEH, 19 ORDIBEHESHT
Iran, 2015, 102 minutes, Colour.
Niki Karimi, Vahid Jalilvand.
Directed by Vahid Jlilvand.
This is a fine Iranian film. It can be said that for the last four decades, or even more, if one were to search national industries to find dramas that explored human values, often profoundly, Iran would have to be at the top or very near the top of the list. While the Iranians have made many movies for television, slight melodramas and popular comedies, their output in serious dramas has been extensive. SIGNIS (The World Association for Communication) has made numerous awards to their films.
The film opens, as the title suggests, on Wednesday, May 9, where an ad has been placed in the paper inviting people in difficult financial circumstances to come to an address and lay claim to an extensive grant. A mother and daughter appear, rather overwhelmed by the crowd, seeing the man in charge being taken away by the police, puzzled over what is happening with no one seeming to know and the police moving the crowd on. She then goes to work in a factory which processes chickens, phones her husband who has been in a serious accident and tells him she will be home late and that her daughter is with her.
Suddenly, the story comes to what seems an end and a new date appears on screen, from the preceding month, a new address. The thought comes that this is a film of different stories.Later, we find that it is not.
The second story packs more of an emotional punch than the first. It takes up the dominance of men in Iranian society and focuses on family themes of honour with consequent victimisation of a woman and a justification of violence against her.This episode is about a young woman who lives with relations and who is challenged by her male cousin about riding on the back of a motorbike with a young man – the cousin condemns her, then assaults her, which leads to a violent confrontation in the street with the young man and, what may seem strange to an audience, the young man being prosecuted for blood money and being taken to jail. What is to happen to the young woman?
But then we are back to May 9, the initial story starting over again but this time from inside the building where the man who placed the ad and works from his friend’s office has to deal with the crowds outside, the role of the police, the question of his motives for offering a grant to someone in need. We have already seen this man in his dealings with the mother and daughter, so it is not a surprise. But, as the day goes on, and the motivation of the man is revealed, we appreciate the tensions in his relationship with his wife, his being overwhelmed by the applications, and the interview with the young woman from the second story.
Once again, an Iranian director (who co-wrote the film and edited it as well as appearing as the older man offering the donation), we are given human dramas, an exploration of basic values, stories of humane concern.
1. The title of the film, the focus, the information about the street and the address, the middle section with the different day and address? The resolution?
2. The settings in Tehran, the days, the streets, crowd scenes, the police, chicken factories, homes? The second story and the interiors, the problems in the street, &? The third story and the return to the day, the interiors of the building, the crowds on the street, the meeting in the office with the young woman? The musical score?
3. The structure of the film: the first story as a story in itself? Interest? Concern and compassion? The introduction of the second story, the earlier date, the drama of the honour of the family, secret marriages, religious and civil, clashes, blood money and the courts, the pregnant young woman and her surviving? The third story and its bringing the first two together, the man giving away the money, the audience learning about him from the first story, his friend, the office, the interviews, decision-making? The epilogue and the wife not coming to the office, the pregnant young woman and the gift?
4. The impact of the first story, an allegory of life in Iran for those who are poor and financially troubled? The role of government? The role of philanthropy? The criticism of not arresting embezzlers of large sums? The crowd, the advertisement, their confusion, the role of the police? The man being taken away by the police? The puzzle? People dispersing?
5. The focus on the mother, with her daughter? Bewilderment? Going back to work, the chicken factory and her friends? Phoning her husband? His accident, injuries, disabilities, moods, brain not functioning properly? His jealousy? His wife’s return, the talk about the money, his not wanting to accept it, his suspicions of Jalal, concerned about his wife, himself, his daughter?
6. The mother, going back, meeting Jalal, his recognising her, the engagement 20 years earlier, his breaking it off, her parents’ reaction, his marriage, the two sons, the death of his young son? His concern about the mother, travelling on the bus, listening to her story, the possibility of the donation? His phone number and address?
7. The impact of the second story, the sudden introduction, the previous date? The young woman, her status in the house, looked after by the uncle and aunt, the cousin and his concern? His anger, sense of honour, criticism of the woman riding on the bike, her boyfriend, issues of shame? Honour to his parents? Discovering the truth about the marriage? His violence towards the young woman? The young man arriving, his wife not riding on the bike, not wanting to disturb? The clash with the cousin, the fight, the broken nose, the uncle and the other young man trying to tear him away? The anxiety of the young woman? The aunt, her talking with the young man, expectations of family, family visit, her criticism of the man’s mother and her make up, saying that he was a good young man but not worthy to enter into their family? The police, the arrest, the young woman and going to the station, the amount of the blood money, her going to the building where her husband was caretaker, the kindly man, staying, residents, rich, complaining about their cars not being parked…? The issue of the money, pleading with her aunt? Her pregnancy, being able to stay for a short while, otherwise out on the street, losing her baby? The kind manager and his giving her the advertisement?
8. Jalal, the death of his son, 11 years, his grief, the issue of the car, the clashes with his wife, her saying he was unfair? Her own grief? His decision to give away the money? His motivation? With his friend, in the office, the crowds of people, unexpected, the decision about the interviews, making the shortlist, the example of the woman whose husband was injured? The day passing, the weariness, Jalal thinking he had made a mistake, his friend confirming this? The decision to put out the applications and take one at random? The audience seeing the young woman answering the ad? The audience knowing what happened after Jalal left the office, his meeting with his former fiance?
9. The last day, the mother at home with her husband, his surliness, her not a ringing? The pregnant young woman to the office, waiting, Jalal phoning, continuing to wait, his final decision, signing the check? Her explanation of the difficulties? Her gratitude? Leaving, looking back?
10. Jalal, his decision, following it through, what did it mean for him?
