Offside
d. Jafar Panahi, 2006
This is the first film by Jafar Panahi that I've seen (I came close to watching Crimson Gold a while back, but didn't, for whatever reason), but based solely on how great Offside, it's safe to say he's one of the great directors currently working. I found this film to be more accesible than that of Abbas Kiarostami--who wrote Panahi's last film--if not as formally rigorous. Regardless, this is essentially a flawless film. It briefly catalogues what it is like to be a woman in Iran that wants to go to a football match, which they are not allowed to do. The reason, as explained by the officers in the film, is because they may hear the men cursing. Offside isn't as angry as a film like this has a right to; instead, Panahi chooses to take a more humanistic approach: he presents the clear injustice of the situation, and layer by layer he peels away the inexplicable reasons a society ends up like this. Even the aforementioned officers in the film, who might very well be the "villains" in a Hollywood film tackling the topic of injustice, get their point of view across. Panahi is clearly a very intelligent filmmaker, and also one that can make a thoroughly enjoyable, not to mention brilliant, film out of a fantastic concept. I only wish more films were this subtle and engrossing.
