The fact that The Taste of Cherry even arrived in Cannes merits attention. Abbas Kiarostami's film was still being held back by the Iranian authorities at the moment the 50th Cannes Festival officially began. Negotiations were successful because the film arrived at the beginning of the week for subtitling and Kiarostami himself arrived the day the film was screened (15 May).
The simplicity of a man behind the wheel of his car, driving up and down the city's habitual streets several miles from Tehran. Every now and then, this man stops when he sees another alone on the streets and invites the individual to join him, even to the point of offering money. He is misinterpreted as a homosexual looking for some action. But in fact, this man is looking for human compassion as he intends to take destiny into his own hands the next day at dawn. He intends to commit suicide. (Suicide is stricly forbidden in Iran.)
Basked in an extreme modesty, The Taste of Cherry portrays the human condition through the metaphor of suicide. When Kiarostami directs, the doors are opened to metaphysical reflection, using only the basics : earth, sky, light, everyday conversation and essential emotions. At no moment is one bored by the film's simplicity, rather it captivates the spectator in its magnetic power.
Kurosawa was quoted as saying, "When Satyajit Ray died, I was sad. And then I saw Kiarostami's films and I thought that God had sent Ray's replacement." Tarantino is also one of Kiarostami's fans.
Director : Abbas Kiarostami,
Cast : Homayon Ershadi, Abdoirahman Bgheri, Afshin Khorshid Bakhtiari, Safar Ali Moradi,
Running time : 95 minutes.
