Mortician helps to explain the current situation in Iran with a haunting and concerning message while also highlighting the brilliance of Abdolreza Kahani as a filmmaker – this is a film that should be seen as widely as possible.
Mortician screens as part of this year’s Persian Film Festival Australia, more information about the festival is available here: https://themercury.org.au/film-series/persian-film-festival/
Read the Glam Adelaide story about the festival here: Glam Adelaide Persian Film Festival Australia
Abdolreza Kahani made Mortician using his “Solo Cinema” approach whereby it was shot entirely on an iPhone with only one microphone and no crew for very little money for the production. With this approach he is the director, screenwriter, editor, cinematographer and producer. The resultant film is deeply engaging where the importance of its message gleams powerfully through its bleakly sad comedy and tragedy.
Mortician follows the story of Iranian-born Mojtaba (Nima Sadr) who cleans bodies waiting to be buried in the traditional Islamic way. Mojtaba travels around wintery Canada performing this work but does so lightly, carrying only a small suitcase. Every month he sends the majority of his wages back to his family in Iran. He is informed by his employer, who has found another job, that the business is closing down and that Mojtaba should return to Iran.
Mojtaba is approached by the also Iranian-born popstar, Yana (Gola) who offers him a generously paying job. Yana believes that she is a target of the Iranian government for her passionate protest songs of the government. Yana is preparing one last big protest against the regime as she plans to commit suicide and for there to be a series of social media posts afterwards featuring herself. Yana wants Mojtaba to wash her body afterwards and bury her between the trees of the snow bound cottage she is hiding out in. She also wants him to help her with the filming and posting the social media posts.
The character of Mojtaba is a burly man who has a melancholic demeanor with a mustache that makes his face look indelibly glum. Nima Sadr performs the role of Mojaba with a sorrowful excellence bringing the tragedy of the narrative to its solemn conclusion with mastery. Gola as Yana is additionally superb.
Kahani’s innovative filmmaking approach does mean that at times the film appears a little grainy and the framing, especially of two person scenes, sometimes lack spatial depth but that all adds to the gravitas of the important script. As a backdrop, the cold Canadian winter brings a distinctive sense of place to the film.
Mortician helps to explain the current situation in Iran with a haunting and concerning message while also highlighting the brilliance of Abdolreza Kahani as a filmmaker – this is a film that should be seen as widely as possible.
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Rating 5 out of 5
Distributor: Persian Film Festival Australia
