Talaye sorkh (2003)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Jafar Panahi

Writer:

Abbas Kiarostami (writer)

Release Date:

12 September 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

For Hussein, a pizza delivery driver, the imbalance of the social system is thrown in his face wherever he turns...

Plot Keywords:

Pizza Delivery | Discrimination | Suicide | Iran | Jewel Robbery

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Hossain Emadeddin	...	Hussein
Kamyar Sheisi	...	Ali
Azita Rayeji	...	The Bride
Shahram Vaziri	...	The Jeweler
Ehsan Amani	...	The Man in the Tea House
Pourang Nakhael	...	The Rich Man
Kaveh Najmabadi	...	The Seller
Saber Safael	...	The Soldier
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Behnaz Houri
Mehran Rajabi
Ramin Rastad
Yadollah Samadian

Directed by
Jafar Panahi

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Abbas Kiarostami		writer

Produced by
Jafar Panahi	....	producer

Original Music by
Peyman Yazdanian

Cinematography by
Hossein Djafarian

Film Editing by
Jafar Panahi

Production Design by
Iraj Raminfar

Set Decoration by
Morteza Kheirkhah

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ramin Rastad	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Laurent Bailly	....	sound
Massoud Behnam	....	sound
Dana Farzanehpour	....	sound
David Vranken	....	assistant sound

Production Companies

• Jafar Panahi Film Productions

Distributors

• Bright Angel Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• ICA Projects (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Mikado (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Ad Vitam Distribution (France)
• Celluloid Dreams (France)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada)
• Total Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Wellspring Media (2004) (USA) (all media)

Also Known As:

Crimson Gold (International: English title)

Runtime:

France:95 min (Cannes Film Festival) | France:97 min | USA:95 min

Country:

Iran

Language:

Persian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:Unrated | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Tehran, Iran

Company:

Jafar Panahi Film Productions

Trivia:

This film was never distributed to Iranian cinemas because it was considered too "dark" by the Mullah's regime. Therefore, it was not able to be considered as the Iranian entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2003 Oscars because it was not released in Iran.

What movies are supposed to be like!

It is regrettable that some comments have described the movie as boring and tedious. In the west, we have been raised with a version of cinema presented by Hollywood that provides quick indulgence and satisfaction; well not only cinema, a lot others as well. Movies that lack this characteristic, being ironically closer to reality and providing an insight into the world we live in, are judged as "weak," and "boring." Allegorical cinema is the strongest cinema no question, and Iranian cinema has been an efflux of such examples during the past decade; "Crimson Gold" is a perfect example.

It might come out as strange, but for a change, a movie has been able to capture the real life, the real social struggles of the society; and this doesn't just pertain to the Iranian society, but the description is one of ecumenical. The pace matches the pace of real life, as one other commentator put it so eloquently, it SHOULD be slow, and it SHOULD be agonizing to watch it, simply because that's what the movie is trying to portray, and that's how real life is experienced. The slow pace of the movie, following every move of the main character, makes the movie even more poignant. One can put self in Hussain's shoes, and feel the pain and humiliation he feels when he walks into the Jewlery store, case in point.