This is the best self-reflexive movie I’ve ever seen, eclipsing slightly even 8 1/2 (also one of my favorites) and Close-Up (which Makhmalbaf appears in as an actor)—it is able to talk about the act of its own making without becoming annoying in the usual ways (think Adaptation, ugh!). It blends the genres of documentary, political film, a love story, while asking questions about identity and fate and the course of history, and above all, it does all of this with a generous wallop of humor—it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The last 10 seconds of this film are the best 10 seconds in ALL of cinematic history, but only because of what builds up to it. Simply amazing. A top ten movie of all time.