Review of No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009) by Helen L — 06 Jul 2010

Quite a good film. Lots of elements: humor, seriousness, heart, a combination of deep regard and criticism for certain aspects of Iranian society (specifically the post-Revolution aspects and like the majority of its population, most of the characters have known nothing else but the kind of moral codes and various restrictions that doesn't mix well with their international consciousness and just being teenagers). Very touching and I think it might surprise many Americans that Iran, despite the Islamic Revolution, has a really decent national cinema (I mean, they prevent many imported films, so their own film artists have developed) and I think people would be less likely to casually consider bombing them if they saw an Iranian film, one which makes people realize they're human beings with feelings, complex ideas about their own society and also that it's not like Saudi Arabia just because they're largely Muslim - this film also, if I'm not mistaken, has a prominent, respected Jewish character, contrary to the assumption that Iran will instigate the next Holocaust.

I especially liked the rap group, their song was intense and talked about class. Hip hop has definitely been an inspiration in many other places and even though American hip hop is full of commercial crap now, you can't erase Public Enemy and the like from the world and it doesn't surprise me that Iranians, like people in other places with huge contradictions and disparities of wealth, would use this particular form to express their frustration. I was not prepared for that ending, but I think it is about how tragic it is how many peoples' talents and passions are suppressed, which I would add is a necessary part of capitalism, but no one could argue it isn't worse in places where many kinds of music and other expression is actually banned. That's an extreme case and one that is especially tragic. You can also tell the director just wanted to make a movie that shows people all the different kinds of music that people make even thought they're not supposed to, the richness of culture lurking underneath, just about bursting out, that he truly loves music and it therefore breaks his heart that it's restricted.

When I left the theater, one lady was talking about the headscarves and I just thought, wow, American liberals cannot ever shut up or stop thinking about headscarves (not that they research or talk to actual women about it), even women, as they are so unwilling to consider that things could always be better but people aren't stoned to death in the streets of Tehran or anything like that. As if women in this country because they can wear mini-skirts are truly liberated and empowered. Like being allowed to show every stranger you see most of your skin is a sign of progress and not a symptom of objectification and a culture that sees women as worthless if they don't look or act a certain way.