‘The Willow Tree’ to be screened today

Islamabad
Director-Screenplay: Majid Majidid
Cast: Perviz Parastai, Roya Taymourian, Afrain Obeisi
‘The Willow Tree’ from Iran, produced in 2005, and directed by Majid Majidi, would be screened at Lok Virsa 'Mandwa' Film Club on Saturday (December 5) at 3 p.m.
The central character of the film is Yousaf, who goes through the tragedies, which few of us would meet in our lifetime. Filmed in Tehran and Paris, the film still unfolds events which move us immensely because they could be close to us.
The film shows how events can change you from inside forever. Sufi poet Rumi and his work has been integrated into the body of the film. And when we have had enough of rough deal in life, we turn to Almighty and plead to spare us from further pain and torture.
The film deals with the spiritual aspect which has been celebrated in the literature for centuries. Gratitude, transformation, sacrifice and surrender to God are at play here. Can all this pull us from darkness into the light? This may bring a dramatic change in our life and we begin to take life from a different approach. We may even overcome our disabilities and start living a rewarding life. When we begin to experience life in changed circumstances, we starts resenting the past and the years we have lost in the darkness. This then threatens to destroy us and the people we love most in life. The Willow Tree introduces us to images of reawakening. This is poetic meditation with symbols and spirit of divine apprehension. This is sacred cinema close to what French director Robert Bresson made, showing spiritual aspects with natural beauty and splendor in 'The Devil', 'The Diary of a Country Priest' and 'Pickpocket'.
In his early film, 'The Colour of Paradise', Majidi showed us a father who took his blind son as a burden and not blessing. In 'The Willow Tree', the father-son becomes the same person. If you have not seen the world for thirty-eight years, and one day you regain your eyesight, would you see the world differently from what you saw it in your past darkness. The images of a mother, a wife and a daughter can confuse you.
Majid Majidi's filmography is highly impressive with titles like ‘Children of Heaven’, ‘The Colour of Paradise’, ‘Baraan’ and ‘Pidar’. Almost all these films have won critical and box office acclaim worldwide and received awards at prestigious international film festivals, including Oscar for Best Foreign Film.
In ‘The Willow Tree’, the focus is on anguish-filled life and the changing experience but can this change achieve personal goals. The actors give subtle performance lead by Parvez Parastai as Yousaf. The director brings on screen his personal and deep spiritual connections full of philosophy and mysticism. The film is beautifully photographed and runs for 96 minutes.
-- The author can be reached at aijazzgul@gmail.com