Iranian-American visual artists Shirin Neshat (“The Last Word” & “Passage”) and Shoja Azari (“Windows” & “K”) adapt the magic-realist novel of the same name by Iranian author Sharnush Parsipur as the formers feature debut which won a Silver Lion and a UNICEF Award at the 66th Venice Film Festival.

Against the backdrop of the CIA backed 1953 Iranian coup d’état four woman, a divorcee, a rape victim, a prostitute and a suicide victim risen from the grave, come together in a magical orchard in search of refuge from the society which has exiled them in an oft surreal little storyline backdrop for the social commentary and artsy goings on.

Iranian exile Shabnam Tolouei is superb as the as the politicised zombie at the heart of the film whilst superb support comes from director favourite Arita Shahrzad as the dissatisfied divorcee, German TV star Pegah Ferydoni as the naive rape victim, and Hungarian shooting star Orsolya Tóth reprising her role as the prostitute Zarin.

The filmmakers betray their origins in the visual arts in this intriguing little movie which regrettably loses its focus on such apparent distractions as plot, pace, character development and social commentary in favour of the pure aesthetic which does look truly beautiful here but leaves one feeling a little un edified.

“I think it’s time to open the gate.”