"A stunningly lyrical and eloquent exploration of both rural village life and the nature of artistic responsibility."—Leslie Camhi, The New York Times

A Party Like It's 1999 Film!

See multiple movies for the low, low price of $19.99! Ticket package includes 3 tickets (plus a bonus ticket for FilmScene members)

Join us for a post-screening conversation after the Wednesday, April 24 screening led by filmmaker and University of Iowa Head of Film & Video Production Anahita Ghazvinizadeh

A team of engineers travel from Tehran to the Kurdish village of Siah Dareh, awaiting the passing of one of the local women hoping to observe their native mourning ceremony. Behzad Dourani, the leader of the team, befriends various members of the community in an attempt to disguise the callousness of their true intentions. But his patience is tested when the elderly villager's health takes a positive turn and extends their stay. A few days turn into a few weeks, giving Behzad an opportunity to see past his outsized skepticism for the local way of life and make deep human connections he never expected. After a string of '90s festival hits, director Abbas Kiarostami was working at the top of his game with this visually arresting, endlessly poetic, and profoundly resonant comedy. With an intentional pace that matches the rhythms of the people in the film, he paints a gentle portrait of what it means to be human.