A Cube of Sugar (2011)

SPOILER: In his latest dramatic comedy, acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi narrates pretty much a different story which happens in a beautiful old house in an old Iranian city. Where different members of a big family are gathering for the wedding ceremony of the youngest sister, Pasandideh. Spilling over with light and energy, in its very early minutes the movie becomes a delightful day dream, full of nostalgic elements. For those many Iranians who feel trapped in modern style of life, Mirkarimi succeeded beautifully depicting the very dream they have in common: Back to hometown-to childhood. Grandsons whispering about a ghost in an old barn, sisters joking about the handsome boys they had around when they were girls living there, fruits floating freely in the old pool somewhere at the middle of garden, colorful lights all around the green yard, noisy kids playing everywhere and Pasandideh trying to catch a ripe red apple while soaring on a wooden swing and just everything an old house needs to be awesome. And yet it doesn't take much for the sorrow to seep into the garden, to turn that sweetness to quite a different taste and that gathering to quite a different kind. wedding ceremony becomes a funeral. The cube of sugar doesn't taste that sweet anymore, yet it's still "a cube of sugar", a life. Pasandideh's uncle, who, in absence of her father was also the father somehow, who wasn't very pleased with her marrying to the absent groom, passes away, in a very unusual but simple way. The waves of sorrow hit more touching, when the bride shows up in her new clothes, black ones. despite its simple nature, the movie doesn't let the viewer to get enough of it. not enough time to think on many things that happen around, like Naser's talking to his doctor about his cancer, like Hamid's failing to find the treasure in the old barn. No extra time to catch up, just like the life. And finally love, in it's most pure recrudescence shows up and becomes the main line of the story. sorrow fades as Pasandideh's old lover steps in to the garden, however in black, however deeply sad. "Ghasem", Pasandideh's cousin, has a lot to tell her. Dressed in army uniform, he somehow promises to "stay there" however his virtue doesn't let him talk directly. Ghasem is the man who the decedent uncle wanted to be called as groom that night and his death gave him another chance to be the real lover, not the outsider one who talks on skype and sends Iphone as the gift. The movie ends, simply as Pasandideh turns lights off one by one, as the soothing music plays on uncle's old radio, which Ghasem were trying to fix before leaving.

pretty much what one would expect from a story that happens in a classic context of this kind. pretty much well worth watching.