About Elly (2009)
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Stars: Golshifteh Farahani, Shahab Hosseini, Taraneh AlidoostiRuntime: 119 minutes
Synopsis: The mysterious disappearance of a kindergarten teacher during a picnic in the north of Iran is followed by a series of misadventures for her fellow travelers.
Performances: 9/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Verdict: If you're not familiar with Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi's work, know that you're missing out on top-tier Cinema. Because not only do I consider him to be one of the best directors working today, but also one of the best writers. "About Elly" is the third movie of his filmography that I've seen after "A Separation" and "The Salesman", and I've yet to be disappointed by any of them.
The film follows a group of married couples as they book a villa by the beach to enjoy a few days together with their children. Joining them are Ahmad, a friend visiting from Germany, and Elly, a teacher who the group secretly hopes will fall for their single friend. However, the trip takes a turn for the worst when Elly mysteriously disappears, leaving the group shaken and filled with unanswered questions about her identity.
The movie's main plot takes a while to unravel due to a slightly longer than needed first act, but once the first half an hour got by and I became familiar with the characters and their camaraderie, I was taken by the tense atmosphere following the catalytic event. The writing and acting in the film's second and third act are nothing short of spectacular, as each character do their best to balance their emotions with logical reasoning to try to figure out what exactly happened and how to best approach it. Relationships are tested, tension starts to rise, and the narrative slowly switches to a nerve-racking back and forth between the travelers.
"About Elly" is not a whodunnit, but certainly reminded me of one. The writing at times felt as if it was coming straight from an Agatha Christie novel, and I loved nearly every second of it. The depth of the characters and themes that came with their relationships make it such an interesting and enthralling watch, and I cannot recommend it enough to fans of the mystery genre.
The film follows a group of married couples as they book a villa by the beach to enjoy a few days together with their children. Joining them are Ahmad, a friend visiting from Germany, and Elly, a teacher who the group secretly hopes will fall for their single friend. However, the trip takes a turn for the worst when Elly mysteriously disappears, leaving the group shaken and filled with unanswered questions about her identity.
The movie's main plot takes a while to unravel due to a slightly longer than needed first act, but once the first half an hour got by and I became familiar with the characters and their camaraderie, I was taken by the tense atmosphere following the catalytic event. The writing and acting in the film's second and third act are nothing short of spectacular, as each character do their best to balance their emotions with logical reasoning to try to figure out what exactly happened and how to best approach it. Relationships are tested, tension starts to rise, and the narrative slowly switches to a nerve-racking back and forth between the travelers.
"About Elly" is not a whodunnit, but certainly reminded me of one. The writing at times felt as if it was coming straight from an Agatha Christie novel, and I loved nearly every second of it. The depth of the characters and themes that came with their relationships make it such an interesting and enthralling watch, and I cannot recommend it enough to fans of the mystery genre.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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