Description (continued...) Palvin Almani) and Nargess (Nargess Mamizadeh), who have been given temporary leave from prison and have no intension of returning. They attempt to flee to Nargess's hometown, which she claims is as beautiful as a Van Gogh painting, but are deterred by police. Meanwhile, their friend Pari (Fereshteh Sadr Orfani), who has just escaped from jail, is pregnant and needs an abortion. Panahi's lens continues to shift from one woman to another as this eye-opening tale circles back on itself. More serious in tone than the director's brilliant, lighthearted debut, THE WHITE BALLOON, THE CIRCLE shares many of its technical and narrative flourishes, making it another example of Iranian cinema at its best and most politically aware. Country of Origin: Iran Reviews "...One of the deepest impressions THE CIRCLE leaves is of the terrifying but also in its way thrilling complexity of experience..." New York Times | 04/13/2001 | p.E14 "...A political fireball....A raw, riveting film..." Rolling Stone | 05/10/2001 | p.94 "...[Panahi] graduates to a new elegance of vocabulary..." Entertainment Weekly | 04/20/2001 | p.49 "...Restrained yet powerful, devastating in its emotional effects, THE CIRCLE is a landmark in Iranian cinema..." Los Angeles Times | 05/18/2001 | p.11 "...THE CIRCLE uses the quests of its characters to provide a subtle and original evocation of city life..." Sight and Sound | 10/01/2001 | p.45-6 "...Remarkably calm and collected....A movie that has made 10-best lists in consecutive years..." USA Today | 12/28/2001 | p.14D Full Cast and Crew Director: Jafar Panahi Starring: Fereshteh Sadr Orafai, Mariam Palvin Almani, Nargess Mamizadeh, Elham Saboktakin, Monir Arab, Fatemeh Naghavi, Mojgan Faramarzi Screenwriter: Kambozia Partovia, Jafar Panahi Producer: Jafar Panahi Director of Photography: Bahram Badakhshani Editor: Jafar Panahi Release Information Color: Color Runtime: 91 min. Original Language: Farsi Subtitled Language: Italian Subtitled Language: English © Wellspring DVD Features Region 0 Keep Case Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85:1 Audio: Stereo - Farsi, Subtitles - English - Optional Interactive Features: Scene Access, Interactive Menus Production Notes Theatrical release: September 8, 2000 (Italy); April 13, 2001 (U.S., limited). THE CIRCLE won the prestigious Golden Lion award at the 2000 Venice Film Festival. Jafar Panahi served as assistant director on Abbas Kiarostami's THROUGH THE OLIVE TREES. Kiarostami, one of Iran's most prolific filmmakers, wrote the script for Panahi's first film, THE WHITE BALLOON. The opening of the THE CIRCLE is a continuous shot that lasts for more than three minutes. It took 13 takes in five days to get the shot right. Most of the actors in THE CIRCLE are nonprofessional. One of the only professionals in the film, Fereshteh Sadr Orafai, played the mother in THE WHITE BALLOON. THE CIRCLE sparked controversy in Iran and was not allowed to be shown in the country. Panahi held a secret screening for 25 students, but 400 students showed up to see the film. The prison set in the film was built specifically for the production; Panahi was not allowed to film in a real prison.
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