Seven Servants (1996) User Reviews (11)

perhaps the most important movie ever made

[f-candice · 10/10 · 26 March 2008]

Daryush Shokof said in an interview after screening the film that Marlon Brando was up for the role of Archie (Anthony Quinn took the part)and Norman Mailer was supposed to play the friend (played brilliantly by David Warner). He said all his childhood dreams came through when these names were ready to commit themselves to this amazing story. Seven Servants is in every perspective a rarest film of all cinema history. an old man wants to get it all over with and hires 7 servants to plug up his body openings and stay connected for the next 10 days? Thus a most unique, original piece of literature , visuals, and concept takes form on the screen never seen by anyone, and or anywhere in arts and or literature until this great piece of film making came about.

Shokof,s Cult masterpiece gets a 10 from me alone for the concept, and then again for the courage, and then again, for Quinn,s extraordinary and shocking performance and then again for out of this world details,Pure Directing such a most complicated movie with an ease, and simplicity, and for all the amazing lines throughout the movie, and also for the most intriguing set design ever. the film is obviously against racism, and for unity of men on Earth. Shokof mentioned in his interviews that he had a dream the night after a terrible fire burnt a family of Turks in a house in Germany . The servants are of different races, and the there are jaw-dropping moments where all these connected people act as one creature doing routine activities of the day from painting, to dancing, eating and or even going to the rest room together. the film is truly a masterpiece of ideas, and an art form that does connect to audiences of all ages regardless of them understanding all the most thoughtful elements hidden under each line in the film. there were Children connecting to one another after the screening and this in itself was the shock of my life. perhaps this is also one of the reasons this movie never got released.Seven Servants might just be too unreachable of an effort for the world in reaching peace in our times and days. perhaps the film would be ripe for screenings world-wide in 3000 years, but whats immensely notable is that the film is done, and it has been viewed , and no one can wipe these amazing visuals off my mind ever. for whatever the reason ,it is a shame for world culture and arts and humanity that Seven Servants is still nowhere to be seen. a 10 forever.

one Giant gift to humanity in form of a film

[sepiapicks · 10/10 · 27 July 2008]

the rating shows 5 but it is just wrong. this movie fits no rating system, and or movie criteria. it is there to stay for another 100000years. timeless, full of ideas, and a most original story ever told in the history of mankind. anthony quinn never looked more at ease. directorial could have not been more onto the dot. cinematography is brilliant. the design opens new perspectives. a movie and a story that made shokof a name to join the list of eternals. shokof belongs to a free world and his films are certainly not restricted to any nation.however, being an Iranian and making films as he does should be a turning point for all those who think arts are restricted to vicinities. wrong. it is not. the true artist creates works of art (and seven servants is one work of art of the highest order) for eternity. this one equals to all those who have been amongst us and have left such works behind. i do hope IMDb corrects the RATINGS on Seven Servants. another 10 from me for this great contribution to the humanity and the arts.

genius work of art in form of a movie

[alexgreen2290 · 10/10 · 1 March 2009]

daryush shokof is foremost and primarily a brilliant mind who created perhaps our century,s most vivid, original and timeless artistic, philosophic, and literary works and simultaneously he is responsible for some amazing movies that only could have come from shokof, and shokof only. now seven servants is a classic in comparison with all other films by shokof. here he remains subtle, and dedicated to tell the story in limited shots, movements, without his usual fierce obscurity of camera angels and scenes or perspectives because the concept alone takes care of all that for it is doubtlessly the most incredible story ever told in the history of mankind,not just in movies,or in the arts and....literature but "mankind,s" history period. it would be useless to ever write a critic about shokof,s works and or less to rate any of his films.they are simply a world apart. now back to this jewel of world culture called seven servants (the movie): i have heard tons of stories about the story how and under what conditions this extraordinary piece of film-making has been made. to sum it all up i would only suggest that there will be no doubt that it remains a shame for all and every culture related concern to have had this film banned and or neglected and or.........for almost 15 years!!???above all equally a shame to know that shokof himself had gone through the same fate (reportedly he and all his works ever after seven servants were never to be shown in any festivals world wide!?)for just having created the most beautiful mind blowing, different, original and genius piece of art and movie.seven servants will go down the history of the greatest and most important films ever made but shame on all who prevented this monumental gift to humanity never reach the world.it is very easy to understand that this movie could have been a start of many discussions,and could have been striking many uninvited arguments politically (because of shokof being an Iranian alone is enough of an issue where the whole entertainment and festival world has been keen and under agreement to work with Iranian based Directors rather than one and again only one courageous shokof who does not live in Iran and has been a sound critic of the regime in his home land (the Islamic republic and...)if it has surfaced in the global context (where it most deservedly should have been and in my opinion could have won at least 4 Oscars from Quinn to Shokof and story and design alone).

all in all and 15 years after we will finally see it on DVD coming out through Pathfinder. now all that is one human injustice and tragedy that again all of us thank the global politics forever. a real shame

extraordinary in any and all perspectives

[k-lohan · 10/10 · 3 January 2011]

in had heard about this film many times,but could never get to see it until recently and finally i just bought it,and saw the movie of my life time.it moved me so much that i started creating a list under different names in which Seven Servants would stand as the movie to reckon with; the most original film i had ever seen the strangest film i had ever seen the most important film i had ever seen the film with funniest scenes perhaps even in the list of the most beautiful films ever as well

seven servants,Satyricon; and perhaps only &à or &( other movies in all cinema pages ave been able to open my eyes that movies are not just there to tell stories but to introduce to viewers a whole world that could only be possible to show in form of moving pictures. daryush shokof and his extraordinary film Seven Servants are perhaps also in my list of; the most underrated or perhaps even completely ignored identities of the most creative minds all together? my tip is that there really are and will always be people amongst us that would never be understood, credited, and or appreciated for what they brought to this world and some others who would be given all for so little they did? continuously a wondering question that clouds my mind many times a day? seven servants is for me perhaps really the first religion coming to mankind in form of a great picture and of artistic merits belonging to the grand masters of the arts at highest levels.

first time out a masterpiece

[daryushshokofo · 10/10 · 1 September 2016]

his first film is supposed to be this one.Seven Servants. However, as in many cases with visionaries and exceptional creative so called geniuses amongst us they suddenly have a vision, a lightning strikes them and then they transfer the force of that message to us through whatever their encounters happens to be.shokof's idea and obsession with unity of mankind had to have happened initially in his maximalism "the art movement he founded in the eighties" and then further his philosophical admissions under the title "yekishim" until this dream came about. according again to his own admission the story of this incredible film came to him in a dream which repeated itself in the same very night in Germany. Thereafter he wrote the script, composed the drawings and being a craftily painter he started designing the scenes. Thus the creation of the world of cinema most unique, original and astounding production called Seven Servants. The film is actually not in anyway a first film but rather a last film from a master filmmaker who never made a movie prior to this one. amazing piece which stands tall in every facet of human creativity from the arts to the books and films. his design shines through as original as the elements of his story.He one handedly starts a movement based on shokofian style of filmmaking. In Seven Servants everything is absolutely shokof driven though he repeats all his mastery in his every future film,and still never gets the deserving applause. though It seems it is all not essential to him at all as he continued making more impressive films regardless of never having received recognition. His directing of the legendary Anthony Quinn is also flawless. Anthony Quinn never ever looked more convincing, powerful,and at ease and actually finally so powerful that it was the most obvious choice for him to receive his Oscars due many 20 years or more, and again even Quinn did not even get the nominations. The film did not either. The story neither. The directing neither. The art design neither. believe it or not it deserved to even win both the best cinematography and production in my opinion. none was achieved for one simple reason that shokof was doomed to have been politically on the wrong side of the coin. no other word explains so much mischievous under accomplishment by all existing institutes and festivals. however, now and suddenly and 20 years after, the film finally receives a slight recognition. It tops the best experimental film ever in the Ranker. It is now the best film of Quinn in ranker Quinn films. It becomes finally and gradually the Gem it is and soon perhaps even respected as the only work in form of a film that could one day become the first holy religion in form of a film. Seven Servants remains a most extraordinary visionary film in the history which will take years for us human beings to admit we did wrong to bury a grand mind and creative energy who seriously created the first ever religion having come to us in form of a film. this also explains we finally could expect amazing dimensions would come to us through cinema though it might take another 500 years as we still continue watching batman returns or james bond just cooked dinner. no rating can be justifiable for such a grand work. it is just plain awesome.

brilliantly out of this world

[bassives · 10/10 · 29 April 2009]

i just read that this wonderful jewel of a film finally gets to be released. what a great surprise, even though for whatever the reason(s) it had to stay hidden for over 13 years. this film represents what an idea can do to a whole generations to come only if that idea is understood rightly and promulgated even more correctly and orderly. seven servants is really not just a movie. it has no red line m and or any standards a movie has had for over 100 years. it is best said by Quinn himself perhaps to be seen in 2300. it would be looked at with some definitively stunning reactions when showed in 2300 somewhere in a cinema on earth on top of a hill where someone holds it dearly to his chest and announces it as the holy film to the viewers watching the wide screen digital thing in the hands of the person on top of the hill.it is a religion. it has to do with all of Shokof,s thoughts, life, paintings, beliefs and above all Yekishim in which he sees our only way out of this planet and encountering the truth about the creation is man,s UNITY (Yekishim). regardless of terrible acts by most all of the male servants, the film stands tall and above everything we have ever seen before with the addition of Quinn having delivered his doubtlessly greatest act of his life.

the film could have easily been nominated and in my opinion worthy enough of 4 Oscars starting with Directorial , Quinn, and Gato Barbieri,s music+ some amazingly original set design, and above all one hell of a script.

go for this one if this film happens to be the only movie you would ever see in your life.

seven servants, Mr. Shokof, and.......................get at least a 10 from me for being out of this world and on the right track leading all of us with it.

shokofestan great

[bolandep · 10/10 · 9 May 2009]

its a man, called anthony quinn at his best. its a connection never seen before in any creativity of thoughts, its a story about unity of mankind, its shokof,s greatest work as a visionary, its shokof,s contribution to the world of humanity, equality, brotherhood, sisterhood, and its the most amazing movie ever made, if not the most important as well, and all in all one of the greatest gifts to mankind from Shokofestan. shokof and his world are here to be remembered forever. another 10 your way shokof and to your planet as well. the Shokofestan.i saw the movie, and it touched me deep in my heart but my brain as well. then, i was so disappointed not to ever see the film come to the public for so many years until it just recently got released. you know what is great about a great work is that like a great work of art it will stay eternal. in fact they should have really waited to publicize this extraordinary work in year 3000. it is still too early for such a monumental work to be ready for public . however, i am happy and have no problems with it coming out sooner, much sooner than expected. the 10 seven servants gets from me now will last anothe 3000 years. man, what a mind.

not Iranian but global

[grahamdore98 · 10/10 · 22 November 2011]

here is a film that has a global view, level, and more so a cosmic goal.i feel sorry to read some terribly banal reviews about this movie by a writer Klein? i am sure many who do not appreciate such films are just used to other type of movies.otherwise how could one understand arts and its related perspectives and would not admire Anthony Quinn,s acting in his perhaps best ever in this remarkably original piece of art work? how could one trash the design of the film? it's most unique, script, and concept? and the Directing that is absolutely a miracle for a debut from an artist that i would openly argue is perhaps the most shining Debut i have ever seen in the history of cinema? this movie has it's place high up in the skies when it comes to the list of original works of artistic merits and is perhaps way below the expectations of those who would admire "only" films for fun, rambo-like and or, simply entertainment pure films. with all due respect to Mr.Klein who by the way only writes a line in his destruction of such a giant art work i also criticize IMDb, and would like to report this critic as one with less than necessary words for it to be printed in the first place. what Mr. Klein writes about such an art work with extraordinary humane dimensions reminds me of the Nazis and or the current Religio Fundamentaists all over the planet who are doing all they can not to ever see mankind becoming "united" on earth. this movie remains yet to be appreciated when we have a whole different world full of the arts and fantasy for appreciating it.

Oscar worthy

[raymondbates80 · 10/10 · 6 May 2009]

this movie was a puzzle from the day i saw it over 10 years ago.it was a puzzle how it got made at all. a true independent movie with no strings and or compromise, but it was made?! when i saw it in a major film festival, it was evident that the audience was shocked, speechless, and no matter who had what idea about the movie being good or bad it was well clear the film was one of a kind and yet it never showed up anywhere?! now and after many years i hear it finally gets distribution world wide, and that it is admittedly written being 13 years in hiding from the public (LONGTALE world sales)?!

why would anyone do such a harm to such a genius work of art?! why would anyone not let this film screen for Oscar nominations?! Quinn never looked more daring than this ever. directing is phenomenal. script is just so original, it had to be nominated. design is well above just another original setting. only an artist could have done that work (which i salute Shokof for being a true artist honest to all his notes). Barbieri is great. cinematography could pack a nomination as well.

and now such a huge question mark remains how on earth did anyone hide this gem of an art work in the hiding for so many years and why?!

i mean it is not that the man (shokof) had just shot Kennedy, and that the truth had to be covered and remain a secret forever. he just mad a movie that could have opened the eyes of the world to new hemispheres and what is wrong with that?! i guess i just give it a 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000so it would stay fresh and respected for equally so many years in the future. one amazing piece of cinema.

absolutely one of a kind

[anaz78 · 10/10 · 29 March 2009]

i saw 3 films by Shokof. Asudem, Breathful and recently Seven Servants. if he never makes any more movies these 3 films alone are enough for me to rank the man alongside a most visionary , unique , mind twisting, modern, and original minds of our time. every line in each one of his films can be a delight all by itself. Seven Servants has a whole bunch of those lines, but forget what is being said and let me write that the visuals alone are ONE OF A KIND in the whole cinema history. how on earth did this film never get a releasing , is for me a wonder as big as the film itself. an old man (oscar worthy act by the legendary Anthony Quinn), is in need of man,s UNITY which persuades him to get some of the most strange ideas how to do this very important issue which happens to be a main core in all Shokof thoughts, them arts, and the philosophies. regrading the magnificent seven servants i only conclude that this man and his works are just simply a breed apart from anything we have ever seen in our 100 years of movie recordings. really hats off to such a genius of thoughts, and form. a great 10 to seven servants.

the first religion coming to mankind in form a film

[fairbankslenny · 10/10 · 12 March 2009]

i had read the philosophical thoughts of Yekishim,and Maximalism by Shokof before i finally saw the movie (seven servants) just recently in a festival in Germany. shokof himself was not present as always. people who stood to take questions were less impressive with the answers as the fate of this magnificent movie which has been in a hide for almost 15 years. shokof has just brought his manifest and thoughts of Yekishim in form of a most refreshing, and simply magnificent movie onto earth with this film. it is not that the acting of Quinn is not matched not just by him but by no one else in my opinion ever, and that for what he had to go through making the film throughout some extraordinary configurations in the film history, and above all not even getting an Oscar for his performance cause the film did not even get released. it is not that the directing is phenomenal by shokof (his debut) which should have gotten him nominated for the Oscar the least, and : it is not unfortunate that such a unique and doubtlessly the most original story ever told did not get that Oscar it should have and or for the one of a kind Design by shokof and.........

none of the above hurts more than the speculation that only due to the political circumstances connected to this film shokof who i believe is by far one of the most extraordinary multi-talented minds of our times did not ever get a chance to continue as one hears more and more often that all his future works have been completely ignored globally?!(this was brought up in a question at the festival,and no one was able to point out to shokof,s other brilliant works) it hurts more to see that such situations still occur in even a most free minded scenes of the world that is supposed to be that of the arts?! seven servants and daryush shokof bring about the notion that there are no limits to the boundaries of the arts no matter where one comes from. he and his works are a landslide away from all Conservative Iranian recent films and much more ahead of even the free world as each oe of his works has introduced a certain dimension of originality of thoughts to mankind for centuries to come. i salute Mr. shokof,s seven events and all his existing record as an artist. a 10 and a lot more to all his courage.