At The Movies With…

Lady Beverly Cohn

WAVES:

Country:  Czech Republic

Director & Writer:  Jirí Mádl

Genre:  Political Thriller

Languages:  Czech, Slovak, French,

Russian, Italian and others

Subtitles: English

Running time:  130 Minutes

Director/writer Jirí Mádl’s WAVES, the Czech Republic’s Best International Film submission, has won 17 awards at festivals, including Newcomer of the Year at the Czech Film Critics’ Awards. It is a brilliant, edge-of-your-seat political thriller shot almost entirely in secret and financed by multiple companies, including France and Germany. This beautifully shot powerful film with the same spine-tingling tensions as in “Argo,” will keep you on the edge of your seat from the opening shot to the very last frame with Martin Žiaran’s camera skillfully honing in on the ever-changing trajectory of this haunting film. 

Based on a true story, the film centers around the final days of free broadcasting in Czechoslovakia and how a handful of courageous reporters at the International News Office of Czechoslovak Radio used every means possible to stay on the air as long as feasible during the 1968 Prague Spring when over 250,000 troops from some of the Warsaw Pact countries, including the Soviet Union, invaded Czechoslovakia to quell civilian protests against the regime.  Mádl assembled a sterling cast of actors, each giving a stunning performance.  While the roles of the reporters are based on actual reporters, the character of Tomáš Havlík, nicely played by Vojtěch Vodochodský, is a fictional character who, in the beginning, is apolitical. His only concern is for his brother, who wants to take an employment exam, but Tomáš wants him to study at the university. 

The Heroic Czechoslovak Radio Station Reporters. 

(2^nd from the left:) Tatiana Pauhofová (Vera Šťovíčková,) Stanislav Majer  (Milan Weiner,) Tatiana Pauhofová (Vera Šťovíčková,) Stanislav Majer (Milan Weiner,) and Vojtěch Vodochodský (Tomáš Havlík). (First & last gentlemen not identified).    

Photo Credit:   Martin Žiaran 

He shows up at the site to try to stop him but, in short order, takes the test himself, and while his brother fails, Tomáš excels, resulting in being hired as a technician by the radio station.  His character has a visible arc from being apolitical to becoming a pivotal figure in keeping the airwaves open until the invading troops destroy the station, leaving these heroes to flee for their lives.  Other leading cast members, each of whom delivers a finely honed characterization, include the fascinating Martin Hofmann as the editor Luboš Dobrovský, and reporters Vojtech Kotek (Jirí Dienstbier,) Jan Petránek  (Petr Lnenicka,)  and Milan Weiner (Stanislav Majer).  Given the precarious state of U.S. politics, one hopes this is not a preview of what lies ahead for us.

In Jirí Mádl’s film WAVES, soldiers from some of the Warsaw Pact countries, including Russia, destroy the Czechoslovak Radio office.  Photo:  Credit Martin Žiaran 

"THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG"

Country: Germany

Written & Directed by:  Mohammad Rasoulof

Genre:  Domestic/ Political Thriller

Language: Persian

Running Time:  168 Minutes

Subtitles:  English

Director Mohammad Rasoul managed to make this most compelling “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” after literally escaping from Iran a few days after being sentenced to eight years in prison for criticizing the government’s crackdown on protestors in Abadan, Iran.  His punishment included flogging, fines, and confiscation of his property. Like WAVES, this fascinating film was secretly shot and supported by an excellent technical team, including Pooyan Aghababaei’s cinematography and his haunting close-ups of the family.  Skillfully edited by Andrew Bird with Karzan Mahmood’s music contributed to the overall look of this film.  Combine Rasoul’s polished direction with excellent production elements; this is one heck of a fascinating movie. 

L-R: Sana (Setareh Maleki, ) Najmeh (Soheila Golestani,) and Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) in  Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed Of The Sacred Fig." Photo Credit:  NEON

Rasoulof’s award-winning thriller tells the story of a happy family living in a lovely home in Tehran.  They enjoy their delicious meals together, prepared by their doting mom and devoted wife, Najmeh, who is deeply emotionally characterized by Soheila Golestani, who gives a fantastic performance.  The loving but cautious dad, Iman, a respected lawyer played by Misagh Zare, skillfully mines the surprising layers of his character. Their two young daughters are especially loving and affectionate with their dad, who works for the Iranian government.  The two sisters – Sana, the older one well-played by Setareh Maleki, and the seemingly very innocent Rezvan, played by Mahsa Rostami, have fun together as they play on their cellphones.  Things begin to go south after Iman is promoted to an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, where he is expected to sign hundreds of death sentences without any due process, to which he reluctantly agrees.  He cautions his daughters to avoid protests and stay off social media as that could impact his employment.

The Family L-R:  Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami,) her sister Sana (Setareh Maleki,) the dad Iman  (Misagh Zare,) and the mother Najmeh (Soheila Golestani) in Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed Of The Sacred Fig.” Photo Credit:  NEON

Drapes are tightly closed, and conversations are muted and not lively or fun anymore.  When their friend Sadaf, played by Niousha Akhshi, is savagely beaten by the state police, the girls want to take care of her wounds, but mom, fearful they might get caught harboring a protestor, says “no.”  The girls beg her, and finally, she relents but says Sadaf can stay only until morning, and then she must leave.  Events take a dangerous turn when Iman finds the government gun issued to him has disappeared from its hiding place and begins to suspect a family member of being the culprit.  It’s about here that his loving, kind demeanor takes a dark turn as he drags them in for interrogation, where a black hood is placed on his wife and daughters. The cruel examination does not produce the culprit.   Iman is under intense pressure to find the missing gun, knowing he will be fired if he reports it stolen.  As his desperation and paranoia increase, all traces of that loving father dissolve as he whisks his family to a deserted area where he locks up his wife and oldest daughter in separate cells.  Rezvan, the younger daughter, manages to elude capture and frees her terrified mother and sister, agreeing to run away from Iman in different directions. The outcome is shocking as we discover who has the missing gun, and it will take a few minutes for you to process the unexpected turn of events. 

*The precious sacred fig is born from another tree. The slowly growing seed is nurtured by its host and spreads its roots, eventually strangling its parent.