Berlinale 2024: Iranian Romance Movie ‘My Favorite Cake’ is a Delight
by Alex Billington
February 26, 2024
On the subject of romance, everybody is aware of that you just should not wait too lengthy… Do not let all of life go by, and have the braveness to say hello to somebody earlier than it is too late. That is the knowledge explored on this pleasant new movie from Iran titled My Favorite Cake (labeled as Keyke mahboobe man within the Berlinale line-up). The movie is each written & directed by the Iranian filmmakers Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha, and premiered on the 2024 Berlin Movie Pageant within the Fundamental Competitors part (although it did not win any awards). Sadly the 2 filmmakers are being saved in Iran, as the federal government took their passports and imposed a journey ban. Nonetheless, this movie stands out inside the Berlinale line-up as an entertaining-for-everyone heartfelt story of romance. The very best praise I can provide is that it has the vibe of an Iranian Earlier than Dawn telling an enthralling story about two 70-year-old single, lonely pensioners who randomly meet and have essentially the most fantastic night time collectively. They’re so cute collectively, you will always remember Mahin & Faramarz.
My Favorite Cake introduces us to Mahin, performed so splendidly by Lili Farhadpour, an aged lady dwelling in Iran who has spent most of her grownup life solitary at residence. Her husband handed away a long time in the past and he or she has been lonely for some time, with out anybody to speak to or spend time with everyday, except for a couple of buddies. On a whim, she decides revive her love life and goes out on an intrepid pursuit into the town to attempt to meet a pleasant man on her personal. Whereas visiting a restaurant, she spots Faramarz, performed by the light Esmaeel Mehrabi, a humble taxi driver who she has eyes for. They lastly join and spend the night collectively, having fun with Mahin’s improbable meals & drinks whereas chatting about life. It truly is a wonderfully pleasant night for these two, easy but invigorating. There are a superb quantity of wonderful moments between them, the place the triumphant feelings that come throughout their face once they make a romantic connection are so unforgettably charming. Particularly when Faramarz tries one among Mahin’s luxurious dolmas. Their all of the sudden ignited romance is pure pleasure to look at because the night time goes on. It is an endearing, uplifting story of affection & intimacy. And it is particularly poignant within the context of Iran’s morality police and the standard rigidness of their society.
As a lot as I loved a lot of this movie, my largest downside with it’s associated to the ending. Whereas I do not wish to give it away completely this early earlier than the movie’s eventual launch, it is unimaginable to speak about with out discussing this a part of it. So I am going to add: spoiler warning. Most of this movie is such a really feel good, rejuvenating expertise it is irritating the way it all of the sudden shifts into a tragic and miserable finale. It is a full shock. And I might really feel the keenness and pleasure of the Berlinale viewers being sapped proper out of them. Right here is an instance of a movie the place that viewing expertise completely issues. Analyzing it now, after watching it, I can put the items collectively and perceive the purpose the movie is making an attempt to make with this twist within the story. Each as commentary on life in Iran, and in addition as commentary on life itself. Nonetheless, having all that pleasure and happiness be swept away in a second simply to make a degree felt like a betrayal. It did not damage the expertise completely, but it surely got here shut, and that is not what most viewers need once they’re watching a movie. I can not charge this movie as extremely as I needed to due to this ending and I’ve to be sincere about how upset it made me.
Nonethless, I recognize how quietly defiant this beautiful movie in opposition to the harshly conservative society of Iran, each inside the dialogue and within the filmmaking. The concept such a phenomenal movie about an Iranian lady could possibly be thought of harmful is clearly ridiculous, particularly when this positively is the form of lovely romantic storytelling we want extra of everywhere in the world proper now. The filmmakers despatched a message to Berlinale and this portion is value highlighting particularly: “We have now come to imagine that it’s now not potential to inform the story of an Iranian lady whereas obeying strict legal guidelines such because the obligatory hijab. Ladies for whom the purple traces stop the depiction of their true lives, as full human beings. This time, we determined to cross the entire restrictive purple traces, and settle for the results of our alternative to color an actual image of Iranian girls – photographs which have been banned in Iranian cinema ever for the reason that Islamic Revolution.” I am glad they completed the movie and I am glad it had an opportunity to shine at Berlinale. Hopefully it’ll make its means around the globe and present individuals how inspiring romance all the time is irrespective of the place and when it occurs.
Alex’s Berlinale 2024 Score: 7.5 out of 10
Comply with Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing
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