This kind of thing happens in music all the time. Or at least used to. A band releases a single and it doesn't chart. However, their next one is a hit and the first one is hastily re-released to capitalise on the buzz. Director Asghar Farhadi came to prominence with last year's Oscar winning A Separation and so About Elly, originally released in 2009, has been given a new push. I'm not complaining, though, as this is entertaining stuff but the cynicism of it gets to me a little - About Elly is now deemed a good movie because 'Farhadi is so hot right now'. But enough of that - on with the review!
Sepideh (Farahani) invites her little girl's teacher Elly (Alidootsi) on a weekend trip with her Peter Friends group of family and mates. Sepideh has an ulterior motive, though: she wants to set Elly up with her brother Ahmad (Hosseini), a divorcee returning from Germany. The weekend turns out to be a disaster when Elly, who is left watching the children, disappears and in the ensuing search it becomes clear that Elly has been keeping secrets.
Farhadi's opening shot is something special: the director has placed us inside a post box with only the slot for light; suddenly, that slot turns into the headlights of a car as it makes its way through a tunnel. But it's not showy jazz hands or the suspect 'keyhole shot' you see hacks indulging in: Farhadi hints at what will unfold, that what we're been shown isn't what it is. For over a half hour we're watching a good-natured party movie as two strangers attempt to flirt but just as suddenly everything is flipped and it's a serious drama.
Farhadi uses this tactic to explore the characters' true nature, or at least what they're like when put under pressure. We're introduced to a liberal family and friends; the women might wear the hijab but everyone here is equal with Sepideh being the party planner, the leader. However, when things go down, characters revert to type: the men become bossy, ordering their wives around and demanding their respect. 'Why are you talking to me like this?' one wife wonders, while a surprised Sepideh is beaten by her husband.
Completely engrossing when watching, About Elly kind of flits away once over, leaving only the impressive performances in the memory. It's all about the moment and once the moment has passed not a lot remains.