Jaddeh khaki

Mit seiner leicht überdrehten Familie zieht Panah Panahi in einem geliehenen Auto durch eine ziemlich weite Landschaft, so als ob sich erst in großräumiger Umgebung das melancholisch-humoreske Potenzial der Reisenden entfalten könnte. Mal lacht man, mal wird es bitter; vor allem der jüngere Sohn birst vor Energie. Ein von virtuos gesetzten Stimmungswechseln angetriebenes Roadmovie, dessen zeitweiliger Sarkasmus fernab der Machtzentren keineswegs verhallt. Als Teilnehmer des Wettbewerbs in Cannes zeigt der Sohn des unter Berufsverbot stehenden Jafar Panahi mit JADDEH KHAKI vor, wie man vitale Erzählkunst und Kritik unter einen Hut bringt. (Gunnar Landgesell)

In Anwesenheit von Panah Panahi.

It takes some bravado to attempt a new road movie in the context of Iranian cinema and greats such as Abbas Kiarostami and Jafar Panahi (especially when your father is Jafar Panahi). But by any measure, filmmaker Panah Panahi has triumphed with his outstanding debut, pulling out inventive and captivating storytelling that also fuses together the best of its ancestors.
The film’s family of four rolls along on an initially unknown mission: a firecracker kid for whom all the world’s his stage, two sarcastic but loving parents, and a mysteriously angst-ridden older son. Laced with the wisecracks are intimations of danger, and Panahi’s signature tone here is the antic, conspiratorial energy of a close-knit family, but with shadows of the outside world imperceptibly creeping over. The trip will take the family right to Iran’s borders, and the older son is justified in being a little nervous. Benefitting from a talented and deft cast, Panahi’s creative spirit is simpatico with the child’s restlessness, as he employs fresh framing, fantastical touches, and key moments of high drama through bold choices of camera distance. And with its peppery family dynamic, this film understands the bilingualism of parenting – speaking of hard realities beyond a child’s understanding, and speaking the language of play that helps make sense of the world. (Nic Rapold)

In the presence of Panah Panahi.

Panah Panahi: JADDEH KHAKI (2021)