Archive of films Men at Work / Kargaran mashghoule karand

Iran
2006, 75 min

Section: Another View
Year: 2006

A comedy based on an idea by Abbas Kiarostami about four men on their way back from a trip, whose attention is attracted by a tall, thin, isolated boulder in a lay-by on a mountain road. Their urge to shift it soon becomes an obsession....The film’s ambiguous story takes place over just one day and is distinguished for its refined simplicity characteristic of the best Iranian films.


Synopsis

A comedy based on an idea by Abbas Kiarostami about four affluent middle-aged men on their way back from a skiing trip, whose attention is attracted by a tall, thin, isolated boulder in a lay-by on a mountain road. Just for fun they decide to try to roll it or at least shift it a little – apparently an easy task – but the whim soon turns into an obsession. When their primitive efforts fail to move it, they adopt increasingly sophisticated techniques. Human strength is seconded by a donkey requisitioned from a shepherd, modern technology is brought in...as the day goes by, more and more people get involved – passers-by, wives summoned from the town, friends. The task proves to be beyond their physical and ultimately even their mental powers. While the rock obdurately fails to move from its place, interpersonal relations start to corrode... The story, which unfolds in a single day, is notable for the refined simplicity characteristic of the best contemporary Iranian films. The realistic dialogue contrasts with the “timeless” mountain panorama and the mysterious inviolability of the rock, perhaps also a metaphor for patriarchal society as the central point of a political allegory.

About the director

Mani Haghighi

Mani Haghighi (1969, Tehran) is the grandson of the well-known Iranian screenwriter and director Eberahim Golestan. He made his debut with the feature film Abadan (2003). The comedy Men at Work (Kargaran mashghoule karand, 2006) is his second film.

Contacts

Iranian Independents
P.O. Box 15875-4769, , Tehran
Iran
Tel: +98 912 319 8693
Fax: +98 912 3198693
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.iranianindependents.com

About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section: Another View
   
Director: Mani Haghighi
Screenplay: Mani Haghighi podle námětu Abbase Kiarostamiho/based on a story by Abbas Kiarostami
Dir. of Photography: Koohyar Kalari
Editor: Mastaneh Mohajer
Producer: Mohammad-Reza Takhtkeshian
Production: Aftab Negaran Productions Company
Cast: Attila Pesyani, Mahmoud Kalari, Reza Kianian, Fatemeh Motamed Arya, Rana Azadivar, Ahmad Hamed
Contact: Iranian Independents
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