Opening night at the San Diego Film Festival this year screened the U.S. premiere of “Septembers of Shiraz” starring Adrien Brody and Salma Hayek, a story about a rich family (Brody plays an Iranian Jewish jeweler whose family and he become persecuted under the Ayotollah’s regime). This film for the record, was not my favorite—ever. It felt all the same—not enough shifts in the emotional tone of the story and frankly, the story despite the heavy subject of the very real persecution of Persian Jews in Iran was flat and unemotional for me. It was a lot of telegraphing by music and dialogue of what was to happen next and not enough showing.
The gorgeous Hayek was ill cast in my humble opinion. She did not feel authentic for me as a Persian Jew—her accent still sounded Mexican and her personality did not strike me as a 1970s Middle Eastern woman…and nothing pulled me out of the story faster than those four inch platform designer shoes while everyone was running around in flats on the dusty streets! And I am not talking Elton John platform (apropos for the ’70s —I am talking, ‘short woman complex with a lot of money I will tell the stylist what I want to wear platform shoes’.
Brody’s earnestness and commitment to the character couldn’t save it either. He didn’t seem comfortable in the role and therefore, neither was I comfortable for him.
Fifteen minutes into the movie, Hayek calls her husband, “Baby” and it rang so false, I cringed physically and for the rest of the film, it felt like watching a bad accident. I blame the director, Wayne Blair on this. He couldn’t hear this falsehood…and a few others?
Shohreh Aghdasloo was the only authentic quality in the film other than the perhaps, the Manischewitz (I presume) wine served at Shabbat. Even the location seemed less than par. I think everyone’s heart was in the right place with this story but unfortunately, it really was not only too long but dull performances and dull storytelling.
The Q & A afterward revealed a very shy Adrien Brody which Tonya Mantooth handled with her usual gracious and sensitive dexterity.
My favorite question that made me go, Hmmm—was from a man in the audience directed at Brody:
“Did you use a butt double for your naked scene?”
Well, you can imagine the laughter (relief from the film being over?) that ensued, myself included. Brody’s response was sincere flabbergastedness (I made this word up)…he couldn’t even answer and professed he didn‘t know how to. For the record, the naked scene was a torture scene of Brody in prison which even the torturing couldn’t elicit sympathy. Sigh. I really wanted to respect this film—but it simply couldn’t rise to the powerful true story of “12 Years a Slave” opening two years ago.
Actor Adrien Brody receiving the Cinema Vanguard award at the San Diego Film Festival Tribute
Geena Davis also at the Tribute receiving the inaugural Reframed Humanitarian Award
Social Justice Panel at Sparks Gallery – San Diego Film Festival
From left: Filmmakers, Thomas Morgan, Hayley, Jack Robbins, Leslee Udwin, and Kweku Mandela
Someone in the audience asked if politicians were a good avenue for making change and Ms. Udwin answered they were a complete waste of time and the audience cheered and clapped. That was a question that made me go, ”Hmmm” because I disagreed and contemplated making the disagreement public and then…
The absolute perfect conflict was when Mr. Mandela (Nelson Mandela’s grandson) intervened vehemently by disagreeing and said that politicians were indeed a valuable resource and that they should always be held accountable for being part of any change for the better.
And I applaud his contention and say AMEN, brother!!
That’s all folks. Be well,
jeanne
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