Frontier Blues

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Frontier Blues

2009

1h 35m

Drama

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50%

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6 Reviews

70%

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100+ Ratings

Four intertwined stories all set in Iran's northern frontier with Turkmenistan.

Andrew O'Hagan

London Evening Standard

It will warm your heart and stretch your mind at the same time, a goal that too many films no longer even see as being a goal.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 3, 2010

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Henry Barnes

Little White Lies

Flat, plain and stretched out -- like the Gorgan countryside.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 3, 2010

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David Parkinson

Empire Magazine

Too little happens at too slow a pace to engross.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 30, 2010

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Some of this is pointed, some if it is a little bland.

Feb 13, 2021

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Trevor Johnston

Radio Times

Jalali's film takes everything slowly, giving us plenty of time to take in the barren landscape as we wait in vain for anything of significance to happen.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 2, 2010

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Audience Member

Im biased (because I produced it! but this a beautiful first film and a worthy new addition to Iranian cinema modling an Iranian sensibility with a cinematic language akin to Kaurismaaki. Longing and waiting for something to happen - a poetic and empathetic look at the frontier and la condition humaine. I hope Babak makes many more films in the future!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Mike M

Thin, anecdotal Iranian offering... the sort of evocatively scored yet generally static drollery it's easy to take or leave unless done exceptionally well. (Sample dialogue: "Donkeys don't have names." "What do you call yours, then?" "Donkey." You might want to hold your sides.)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/25/10

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Audience Member

At first I almost fell asleep from the slow pace of the movie, but then the different story threads started to grab me more and more. In the end I really felt for the characters and I thought it was a fascinating watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Babak Jalali

Director

Karima McAdams

Actor

Babak Jalali

Writer

Homayoun Assadian

Producer

Ginevra Elkann

Producer

Saadi Soudavar

Producer

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Synopsis

Four intertwined stories all set in Iran's northern frontier with Turkmenistan.

Director: Babak Jalali
Producer: Homayoun Assadian, Ginevra Elkann, Saadi Soudavar
Screenwriter: Babak Jalali
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Persian
Runtime: 1h 35m