Ebrahim Golestan’s “The Brick and the Mirror,” a little-known Iranian film from 1965, is one of those rare top-level cinematic works that sometimes, despite its high quality and importance, almost slips through the cracks of film history. Unseen for decades, it’s a brilliant mixture of neo-realism and romantic drama and a spellbinding portrait of Tehran in the ’60s — the tale of a harried young cab driver (Taji Ahmadi) who discovers a baby left on his back seat, probably deliberately, by one of his fares. Puzzled and scared, ridiculed by his friends, he keeps the baby for the night, helped by a sensitive, pretty young woman (Zakaria Hashemi) who becomes emotionally attached to both the driver and the infant. But the next morning brings rude awakenings.
It may sound sentimental, but Golestan keeps the emotion pure. The performances are sincere and transparent, and the director’s black and white widescreen imagery is poetic and highly evocative. He’s a major talent who was unfortunately caught in the juggernaut of Iranian politics. A non-filmmaking resident of Britain since 1978, it’s unfortunate he didn’t make more such movies. Golestan’s other dramatic feature, the playful 1972 satiric comedy “The Secret of the Treasure of Jinn Valley,” and four of his short documentaries also play this week (see below). The director himself, born in 1922, will appear at the Friday and Saturday screenings of his movies. All films are in Persian, with English subtitles.
‘The Brick and the Mirror’ **** (Iran; Ebrahim Golestan, 1965). 7:45 p.m. Sat.; 6 p.m. Thu.
‘The Secret of the Treasure of Jinn Valley’ *** (Iran; Golestan, 1972). 7:30 p.m. Fri.; 7:45 p.m. Mon.
Early Documentaries by Golestan *** (Iran; Golestan, 1961-65). 3 p.m. Sat.; 8:15 p.m. Wed. At the Gene Siskel Film Center.
*indicates material from past Wilmington reviews.
Gene Siskel Film Center
164 N. State St.
312-846-2800
siskelfilmcenter.org
’25th Hour’ **** (U.S.; Spike Lee, 2002). Lee’s excellent post-9/11 New York City film of screenwriter David Benoit’s novel about a convicted drug dealer (Edward Norton) and his last day of freedom. With Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper, Rosario Dawson and Brian Cox. 5:15 p.m. Sat.; 6 p.m. Tue.
Block Cinema
Northwestern University
40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
847-491-4000
blockmuseum.northwestern.edu
*’The Tin Drum’ **** (West Germany; Volker Schlondorff, 1979). Director-writer Schlondorff’s massive, hypnotic and beautifully crafted film of Gunter Grass’ 20th Century German classic is one of the most original and passionate historical epics of the German cinema. Grass created a hallucinatory landscape out of German history before, during and after the World Wars, through the wised-up innocent eye of tin drum-playing dwarf protagonist Oskar (David Bennent). With Mario Adorf, Angela Winkler and Daniel Olbrychski. In German, with English subtitles. 8 p.m. Thu.
LaSalle Bank Cinema
4901 W. Irving Park Rd.
312-904-9442
*’Fixed Bayonets!’ *** (U.S.; Samuel Fuller, 1951). A good, salty, knowing look at courage, camaraderie and fear in an outmanned rear guard company covering a secret troop shift during the Korean War. Though not as good, it’s in the same league as Fuller’s war classics “The Steel Helmet” and “The Big Red One.” With Richard Basehart, “Helmet’s” Gene Evans and, in a soldier bit, future legend James Dean. 8 p.m. Sat.
Doc Films
University of Chicago
Ida Noyes Hall
1212 E. 59th St.
773-702-8575
docfilms.uchicago.edu
*’Pan’s Labyrinth’ **** (Spain; Guillermo del Toro, 2006). Del Toro’s horrific yet wonderful tale of a little girl’s dream world during Spain’s worst era of fascism is set in an era of tyranny and bloodshed — rural 1944 Spain in the still violent aftermath of the 1936-39 Spanish civil war. It takes us underneath, to a magical realm of fairies and fauns that may exist in the mind of a spunky child. With Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil and Sergi Lopez. In Spanish, with English subtitles. 6:30, 9, 11:30 p.m. Sat.; 4 p.m. Sun.
‘Action in the North Atlantic’ *** 1/2 (U.S.; Lloyd Bacon, 1943). Leftist John Howard Lawson’s script about the World War II Merchant Marine is an action-packed seagoing battle movie that juxtaposes problems of the officers above (Humphrey Bogart, Raymond Massey) and the more proletarian crews below (Sam Levene, Alan Hale). Later damned as Communist propaganda, it plays now more like rousing ’40s war patriotism; it’s one of the better lesser-known Bogies. Some of the dialogue was by uncredited noir ace A.I. Bezzerides. 7 p.m. Mon.
*’Ohayo’ (‘Good Morning’) **** (Japan; Yasujiro Ozu, 1959). Ozu’s informal remake of his great silent 1932 comedy about children, “I Was Born, But … “. Not as lyrical as its model, but just as penetrating, this one has another obstreperous brother combo who stage gas-expelling contests and wage a war to get a family TV. With Chishu Ryu. In Japanese, with English subtitles. 9 p.m. Thu.
The Music Box Theatre
3733 N. Southport Ave.
773-871-6604
musicboxtheatre.com
‘The Lady Eve’ **** (U.S.; Preston Sturges, 1941). In this screwball comedy classic, writer-director Preston Sturges’ dialogue crackles, and a terrific cast blazes. As we watch, breathless, bashful scientist Henry Fonda (“Snakes are my life!”), heir to a brewing fortune (“Pike’s Pale, the Ale that Won for Yale!”), is relentlessly pursued, aboard a luxury cruise ship, by feisty con-woman Barbara Stanwyck (“Do you like the rest of me?”) and her crusty cardsharp uncle Charles Coburn (“Let us be crooked, but never common!”), to the consternation of skeptical major-domo William Demarest (“Positively the same dame!”). Sexy, funny and loaded with ace-high wisecracks, this is a Hollywood romantic comedy as irresistible as an apple in Eden.11:30 a.m. Sat.-Sun.
Facets Cinematheque
1517 W. Fullerton
773-281-4114
facets.org/cinematheque
‘Cafe Setareh’ *** (Iran; Saman Moghadam, 2005). Set in a seedy, boisterous section of Tehran, Moghadam’s engrossing tale of three women trapped by life and largely failed by men has a spiciness, smoky visuals and a sense of sexuality and flawed morals that many contemporary Iranian films, as well as the classic Hollywood “women’s pictures,” largely avoid. This is a movie that convinces you of its links to real life, actual problems — and paints a picture of Iran that’s all the more troubling because of that reality. With Afsaneh Baygan and Haniyeh Tavasoli. In Farsi with English subtitles. Various times, Fri.-Thu.
Unscreened but of interest
’10 Questions for the Dalai Lama’ (U.S.; Rick Ray, 2007). Its theatrical release timed to coincide with the U.S. visit of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, this intimate look at the influential and inspirational leader is structured by 10 questions proposed to him by filmmaker Ray. Ray juxtaposes their talk with film views of the Middle East, historical footage and inside looks at the Dalai Lama’s occupied country. (The Dalai Lama will appear in person at Chicago’s Millennium Park 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sun. at the Harris Theater (doors open at 8 a.m.) and 1-4 p.m. Sun. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.) Opens Friday at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St.
‘War/Dance’ (U.S.; Sean Fine/Andrea Nix Fine, 2007). The opening night benefit film of the 5th Annual Human Rights Watch Traveling Film Festival has a troubling but stirring subject: the exploitation of children in Uganda’s civil war and their later possible redemption though art and the national music competition at Kampala. The gala includes a discussion/Q&A and reception. (The festival continues next week at Facets.) Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Wed., screening at 6 p.m. Wed. at Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.; 312-280-2660 or 800-622-7858.
‘The Hawk is Dying’ (U.S.; Julian Goldberger, 2005). Paul Giamatti gives a much-praised performance as the central figure of this adaptation of Harry Crews’ novel, about a Florida man fixated on taming a wild red-tailed hawk. Various times Fri.-Thu., Gene Siskel Center.
