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Avalanche | Bahman (2015)
Directed by:
Morteza Farshbaf
Date of birth:
1986, Gonbad-e Qabus, Iran
Writing credits:
Morteza Farshbaf, Nasim Marashi
Music by:
Hamed Sabet
Country:
Iran
Language:
Farsi
Color:
Color
Runtime:
101 minutes
Released:
2015
Genre:
Drama
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AVALANCHE | Bahman
(2015) 26th Annual
Festival of Films from Iran (Gene
Siskel Film Center, Chicago, IL)
by David J.
Fowlie
Melancholy may weigh heavily on the film, but it feels
real and not forced in any way. We may not know all that is going on in
Homa’s mind, but she is nevertheless a character we can relate
to – someone who is burnt out, someone who is wondering who she is and how she
is loved and perceived by others.
While snowfall can be quite
beautiful and relaxing, a subzero and windy winter can damper the spirits and
drive those already struggling with depression into a downward spiral. Such an
atmosphere can also summon a newfound awakening of these feelings, so you
imagine what a blizzard would do to someone who’s been working the same tedious
job for years.
“Avalanche”
is both a well-written character-driven study and an atmospheric film at the
same time. I’ve found that its usually hard for a film to be one or the other,
left alone both. In this case, one definitely (and affectively) impacts the
other, as Motamed Aria’s Homa sinks deeper and deeper into herself as the
increasing snowstorm blankets everything around her. The palpable cabin
fever she experiences accentuates feelings she has seemingly nursed for years.
Farshbaf offers several shots of the snowswept
blue-hued atmosphere, often following Homa traveling to and from work in her
vehicle, communicating an obvious lonesome tone to the film. This matches what
we see when he steadies the camera on the disparate Homa, who
is often found staring out a hospital or an apartment window, looking out at
falling snow – again, it’s peaceful, but Motamed
Aria’s expressive face is somewhere else, lost in the white
void.

Melancholy may weigh heavily on the film, but it feels
real and not forced in any way. We may not know all that is going on in Homa’s
mind, but she is nevertheless a character we can relate to – someone who is
burnt out, someone who is wondering who she is and how she is loved and
perceived by others.
I couldn’t help but think of both “Anomalisa” and “45
Years” after watching “Avalanche”.
As we follow Homa and see her breakdown and finally share her feelings with her
husband, it reminded me of the lead characters in both of those films. She
develops a level of irritability toward certain people around her – similar to
Charlie Kaufman’s creation, Michael Stone, in “Anomalisa” and also suddenly finds (or finally faces) a
rift in her marriage that distances her from her husband, much like Charlotte Rampling’s character in Andrew Haigh’s “45
Years”. All three films include a look at how humanity can often be
defined as an isolating and smothering experience, due to either internal or
external sources.
I’d really be interested to know more about this beautiful and moving film.
It left me wondering where Farshbaf arrived at the idea for the
story and whether or not Homa is based on a real-life person. I
also found myself interested in knowing more about the work of Motamed
Aria, who is apparently a renowned actress in her own right. As far
as I can recall, this is my introduction to her and I’m definitely interested in
seeing more of her work.

“Avalanche”
is playing at the Gene Siskel Film Center this weekend – on Saturday, February
6th at 7:45pm and Sunday, February 7th at 4:45pm – as part of the 26th Annual
Festival of Films from Iran, which runs from February 6th through February
28th.
written by: Morteza
Farshbaf produced by: Javad
Noroozbeigi directed by: Morteza
Farshbaf runtime: 85 min. U.S.
release date: February 6-7, 2016 (Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, IL)
NOTE: Motamed Aria also headlines the festival’s closing
film, “Yahya Didn’t Keep Quiet” on February 27th and February
28th.
tags: Ahmad Hamed, Avalanche, Fatemeh Motamed
Aria, film, Morteza Farshbaf, review
Delicious
Selected filmography of Morteza Farshbaf
- Avalanche | Bahman (2015)
- Mourning - Soog (2011)
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