Review of This Is Not a Film (2011) by Kathy U — 28 May 2012

An act of defiance against repression of the freedom of expression and political harassment. It's a brave last ditch effort of a restrained house arrested filmmaker to save himself from artistic death (20 years ban in film making is not a joke).

This film gives us an insight on what it's like to be the enemy of the state and what it's like to be forcibly stopped from doing the things you love to do (damn Iranian censorship). Still, he was able to make do with what limited space and resources he has in his house to make us feel his frustration as he describes the film he was supposed to make to the cameraman and as he discussed with his lawyer the verdict on his case.

The accomplishment of this passive-aggressive feat, and the success of smuggling this out of Iran in a cake sent to Cannes film fest in France is, I think, a victory for Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba. It's just so brave.