Close-Up
Nema-ye Nazdik
Iran
1990
98 Min
Color
1.33:1
Persian
Synopsis
“A frustrated young film-buff, who had been posing as Mohsen Makhmalbaf, gets arrested”.
These headlines in Tehran daily papers was coupled with the following story: “The accused passing himself off as the celebrated film director, entered the life of a well-to-do family with the ostensible intention of wanting to make a film with their participation. All this has apparently been an excuse for exploring the family house and planning for burglary which was forestalled with the man’s arrest.”
The news provided Kiarostami with the basic idea for a semi-documentary film entitled “Close-up”. Kiarostami visited the accused in prison, contacted people at the judiciary department and obtained permission to shoot the court proceedings. He set up two cameras at the court: one with wide-angle lens to record the trial, and the other one with a close-up lens to probe into the psychological truth of the case.
Director
Abbas Kiarostami
Abbas Kiarostami was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1940. He graduated from university with a degree in fine arts before starting work as a graphic designer. He then joined the Center for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, where he started a film section, and this started his career as a filmmaker at the age of 30. Since then he has made many movies and has become one of the most important figures in contemporary Iranian film. He is also a major figure in the arts world, and has had numerous gallery exhibitions of his photography, short films and poetry. He is an iconic figure for what he has done, and he has achieved it all by believing in the arts and the creativity of his mind. —World Cinema Foundation
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Shelley
19Jun13
A stark portrayal of the connection films make between people, and how personally these connections affect people. I was very surprised at the documentary-style-bluntness of this film, but it works. I thoroughly enjoyed the realness of this film, especially since the characters all play themselves. While not aesthetically stimulating, "Close-Up" will stimulate your mind and make you reflect on your cinematic emotions
sewslow
27Apr13
Of course a film about a man going to great lengths to imitate a filmmaker that he has never met would be one of the most convincing faux-documentaries ever made.
nicole Fouzas likes this
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Articles
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Out of the Past: Five Old Flames
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We at MUBI think that celebrating the films of 2010 should be a celebration of film viewing in 2010. Since all film and video is "old" one
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By David Hudson on March 26, 2010
But first, New York's Film Forum is marking the 20th anniversary of Abbas Kiarostami's Close-Up with a one-week run for a new 35mm print
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2009: Watching the Watchers ("Shirin," Kiarostami, Iran)
By David Cairns on June 23, 2009
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Abbas Kiarostami's CLOSE-UP Blu-Ray Review
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
The DVD and Blu-Ray of Abbas Kiarastomi’s 1990 film Close-up serendipitously follows the premiere of his latest work, Certified Copy, at Cannes in 2010. Close-up is a subtle, complex film that demands
Abbas Kiarostami's CLOSE-UP Blu-Ray Review
By Twitchfilm.net on June 19, 2010
The DVD and Blu-Ray of Abbas Kiarastomi’s 1990 film Close-up serendipitously follows the premiere of his latest work, Certified Copy, at Cannes in 2010. Close-up is a subtle, complex film that demands
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Close-up
By Adam Suraf on August 22, 2010
In a remarkably complex bit of stunt film-making, Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami re-stages the trial of Hossain Sabzian, a poor worker who passes himself off as a famous film director for seemingly unknown…
I want to be someone else or I'll explode
By All Is Grace on March 5, 2010
How can I describe this masterpiece? I’ve spent so much time in my life till now, watching different movies from different countries, never thought I would be moved by a film from my very own region… read review
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2 discussion topics.
Close-Up on Criterion?
2 posts by 2 people
over 1 year ago
If you could pretend to be any director for a family of unknowing movie goers (Like In "Close Up") who would it be?
8 posts by 7 people
almost 2 years ago