The Willow Tree

2005

1h 36m

Drama

List

87%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

80%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

Youssef fears his life will never be the same after leaving home to have his cancer treated in France.

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Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

This is powerful stuff.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 25, 2008

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Frank Scheck

Hollywood Reporter

Majidi infuses his simple yet eloquent tale with stunning imagery designed to make us relate to Youssef's reawakening.

Sep 10, 2007

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Stephen Holden

New York Times

Explicitly religious, intensely poetic meditations, filled with recurrent symbols and suffused with a spirit of divine apprehension. [It is] sad beyond measure.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 3, 2007

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Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

Perhaps Majidi intended wry commentary and observation of the dubious influences of Western culture on Iran, where outside scientific, technological and material advances impart a knowledge that is not necessarily likewise wisdom, enlightenment or virtue.

May 15, 2008

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Teeters on the edge of overwrought melodrama but is saved by the convincing performance of Parvis Parastui.

Rated: B

May 12, 2008

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Bill White

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Iranian director Majid Majidi... takes his place alongside Robert Bresson as a master of sacred cinema. His Iran is a place of natural beauty so intense that even the sightless can experience its splendor.

Rated: B+

Jan 24, 2008

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dave s

The Willow Tree is the story of Youseff, a loving husband and doting father. Blind since the age of eight, he travels from his home in Iran to Paris for medical reasons, where it is discovered that his sight can be restored. This is a film about temptation, faith, and the acceptance of circumstance. Featuring a great performance from Parviz Parastui in the lead role, rich cinematography with beautifully composed shots, and a story filled with irony, symbolism, and heartbreak, director Majid Majidi's film is a thoughtful examination of human nature and the fragility of relationships.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

One of Parastui's most powerful performances! A story of faith and lust!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

So awesome, yet so simple. Reminds me of Satyajit Ray's films. Watch it before you bid adieu to this world.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Audience Member

Slow paced but wonderfully acted drama from Iran. Youssef is a man who, despite his condition as invident, has a beautiful house, a wife and a daughter, plus a fine job as teacher in a University... a good life. He constantly prays to God for compassion and suddenly his prayers seemed to be answered with a surgery that gives, not only his eyes, but the what he thinks is the opportunity of rearrange his life has he wants... screwing it all in the way.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie and nothing else. No intersections in the different scenes movie continues with the same level. Soundtrack of the movie, the ant in the begining and in the end of the movie, the quotes of Morteza, Yosef's inner realm, his childish character, his fear, his dreams.....

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A beautifully sad narration of a man coming to terms with his vision after 38 years of blindness.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

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Majid Majidi

Director

Parviz Parastui

Youssef

Roya Taymourian

Roya

Afarin Obeisi

Mother

Majid Majidi

Original Concept

Majid Majidi

Screenwriter

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Bourne Is Certified Fresh; Hot Rod Hits the Skids; Bratz is Grade-Z; El Cantante Hits A Flat Note

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Synopsis

Youssef fears his life will never be the same after leaving home to have his cancer treated in France.

Director: Majid Majidi
Producer: Majid Majidi
Screenwriter: Majid Majidi, Fouad Nahas, Nasser Hashemzadeh
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Persian
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.5K
Runtime: 1h 36m