The Iranian Emperor's new comedy film

On Friday I went to Beverley's cinema club. It's one of those places that shows obscure, foreign films that you wouldn't usually see at the cinema or be able to rent. Usually for good reason, like you wouldn't really want to! I sometimes find that these clubs are a bit like discussing the Emperor's New Clothes*, where everyone thought they should say how lovely the clothes were because that's what all the rich, important and intelligent people were saying (even though they couldn't see anything at all and in fact the Emporer was naked and looking stupid, but no-one was brave enough to say so).

It's my sister Toni who is a member and she can take a guest. I missed the last foreign film and she said it was brilliant. So, tempted by the fact that I may miss something else brilliant, I agreed to go and see the Iranian comedy film**.

Now, my first thoughts were that an Iranian comedy is a contradiction in terms. But, I like to think I'm open minded, and anyway I had nothing else planned and the bar at the cinema club is very cheap. (Damm, I've let slip my true motivation!!).

The film started, and I was disappointed to find that Omid Djalili was no-where to be seen! It was subtitled (obviously) and so we had to move along a couple of seats as Toni was behind a woman with bufty hair and couldn't read the words at the bottom of the screen. (you may well ask, what about the person who was behind Toni??).

I don't know who suggested it was a comedy, but I would like to challenge that description as I didn't find anything remotely funny. If that wasn't bad enough, it was all about FOOTBALL! Yuk. We didn't even get to see lots of fit footballers running around, it was just some girls and soldiers giving their opinions on and commentating on an important football match that was supposedly going on behind the wall of the stadium where they spent virtually the entire film.

After 10 minutes I was doubtful if I would enjoy this film, and from then on it got steadily worse!

Will I be going again?? I may need to think about that very carefully! (after all, there's good telly on a Friday!


*story by H C Anderson - always good to get a Danish reference in!!

** no, I can't remember the name of the film, and can't even be bothered to look it up - believe me, you won't want to see it!