BLACK TAPE: A TEHRAN DIARY, THE VIDEOTAPE FARIBORZ KAMKARI FOUND IN THE GARBAGE A film review by Steve Rhodes Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes RATING (0 TO ****): * 1/2
Fariborz Kamkari's BLACK TAPE: A TEHRAN DIARY, THE VIDEOTAPE FARIBORZ KAMKARI FOUND IN THE GARBAGE (RAVARYETE MAKDUSH) is an Iranian political drama told in THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT fashion. It's the type of film that will have viewers shaking their heads during it but mouthing platitudes afterwards like "powerful" and "shocking." What they won't admit to each other or even to themselves, since it wouldn't be politically correct, is that the film is an incomprehensible mess. Only its high-minded intentions save it from being truly awful.
"The videotape was found in the garbage," says the only introduction to the story, which is told with a shaky-cam approach and nearly indecipherable images. Intriguing at first, the story concerns a woman, her abusive husband and a lot of murky political intrigue. It may also involve rape, murder and abortion, but I could never be sure.
The intrigue quickly turns to tedium, which eventually evolves into boredom. BLACK TAPE is only for those who enjoy unsolvable crossword puzzles.
BLACK TAPE: A TEHRAN DIARY, THE VIDEOTAPE FARIBORZ KAMKARI FOUND IN THE GARBAGE runs a long 1:23. The film is in Farsi and Kurdish with English subtitles. It is not rated but would be an R for violence and would be acceptable for most teenagers.
The film is being shown as part of San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival (www.Cinequest.org), which runs February 27 to March 9, 2003.
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