The Hunter

Shekarchi
a film by Rafi Pitts

Ali Alavi has recently been released from prison and makes the most of his return, amidst much talk of the upcoming elections and promises of political change. Working as a night watchman in a Tehran factory now means that he is at least able to support his loving wife, Sara, and their six-year-old daughter, Saba. Ali tries to spend the most time possible with them, but needing also to escape the stress of urban living he retreats to his favourite pastime of hunting in the secluded forest to the north of the city.

One day, Ali comes home from work to discover that Sara and Saba have disappeared. Realising that there's no point in waiting for them any more, Ali decides to go to the police. But there's chaos at the police station and it takes hours for him to get any information. Finally, he is told that his wife was caught up in a shoot-out with demonstrators and was killed. His daughter Saba, however, is still missing.

Ali's search for his daughter drives him to distraction and ends in horror when her dead body is eventually discovered, pushing him over the edge. Desperate for revenge, in broad daylight overlooking the busy city's surrounding highways, Ali randomly shoots and kills two policemen with his hunting rifle. The police mount a ground and air search operation as Ali heads out of the city. After a high-speed chase in dense fog along a country road his car crashes and he flees into the northern forest where he is captured by two police officers. Ali is resigned to his fate and watches quietly as the arguing policemen lose their way in the woods. In such a remote landscape as this, situations become complicated and the line between hunter and hunted is difficult to define.

Commenting on the ambiguity of the narrative, writer and director Rafi Pitts explains: "The film concentrates on hunting down to explore the pressure of a time bomb society. The 'hunter' could obviously be seen as the leading character Ali, but there can also be other interpretations. Keeping things open to interpretation is an important element of my filmmaking. As a director, I try to give as many meanings as possible. My job is to question. I don't believe in trying to give answers."

A searing indictment of political corruption, The Hunter is a tense, compelling and beautifully shot minimalist thriller, set against the background of social unrest in Iran.

Before Sunset

A film by Richard Linklater

Nine years have passed since Jesse and Céline met on a train and spent a single night together in Vienna. Since then, Jesse has written a novel, "This Time", inspired by his encounter with Céline, and the book has become a bestseller in the United States. He has returned to Europe to promote the book and the last stop on his tour is at the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris. As Jesse talks with his audience, we see in flashbacks his memories of their night in Vienna which have clearly remained with him throughout the ensuing years.

Three journalists are present at the bookstore, interviewing Jesse: a romantic who is convinced the book's main characters meet again; a cynic who is convinced that they don't; and a third one who, despite wanting them to meet again, remains doubtful they actually do. As Jesse speaks with his audience his eyes wander towards the window and to his utter surprise he sees Céline standing there, smiling at him.

When the presentation is over, the bookstore manager reminds him he has a plane to catch and must leave for the airport in a little more than an hour, so as with the first meeting, Céline and Jesse's reunion is constrained by time. Again they are forced to make the best of the little time they have together, and their conversations become ever more personal, beginning with the usual themes of work and politics and then, with ever increasing passion, approaching their love for each other, just as their time together is running out. Earlier in their conversation, they broach the subject of why they did not meet as promised six months after their first encounter. Jesse had returned to Vienna, as promised, but Céline did not, because her grandmother had died suddenly and the funeral took place on the date set for their meeting. Because they had never exchanged addresses, they were unable to contact each other, which resulted in their missed connection.

As they talk, each reveals what has happened in their life since first meeting. Both are now in their early thirties. Jesse, now a writer, is married and has a son. Céline works for an international environmental agency, lived in New York for a time, and has a boyfriend who is a photojournalist. It becomes clear in the course of their conversation that both are dissatisfied to varying degrees with their lives. Jesse reveals that he only stays with his wife out of love for his son. Céline says that she does not see her boyfriend very much because he is so often on assignment. Their conversation as they traverse Paris takes place in various venues, including a café, a garden, a bateau mouche, and Jesse's hired car for his stay in Paris. Their old feelings for each other are slowly rekindled, even with moments of tension and regret over the missed meeting, as they realise that nothing else in their lives has matched their one prior night together in Vienna. Jesse eventually admits that he wrote the book in the distant hope of meeting Céline again one day. She replies that the book brought back painful memories for her.

As their time together draws to a close they arrive at her apartment. Earlier Céline had told Jesse that she plays the guitar and he persuades her to play one song before he has to leave. The song Céline sings for him is about their brief encounter nine years ago and reveals through the lyrics that he is still the only one she loves. Jesse then plays a Nina Simone CD on the stereo system. Céline dances by herself to the song "Just in Time" as Jesse watches her. As Céline imitates Simone, she mutters to Jesse, "Baby ... you are gonna miss that plane". Jesse smiles whilst nervously fidgeting with his wedding ring and ambiguously responds, "I know", leaving us to decide whether or not he stays this time.

Jesse and Céline are characters of real life, effected by their decisions good or bad, making compromises, sometimes insecure, a little scarred, but still holding on to memories and dreams of perfect moments. She had a different life after the encounter than he did. While he still longs for Céline in his heart, he did move on. She longs for Jesse in her heart, and to this day cannot find anyone to replace his purity. But now there is more at stake, for they are nine years older, have made their share of mistakes, feel imprisoned by responsibilities, and must confront their shortcomings and problems. Whilst they are still on a journey they are no longer certain that their destination is the right one – they are unsure whether they can change direction, or even if they should, but afraid of what will happen if they don't. Where Sunrise captured the immediacy and urgency of perfect youthful love, Sunset reflects beautifully on the aftermath of that perfection.

Before Sunrise

A film by Richard Linklater

A young man and woman meet by chance on a train in Europe and embark on a spontaneous romantic evening together in Vienna, walking around the city and getting to know each other. In the course of their 14-hour relationship, the two share in their love for the unrehearsed and their appreciation for the unexpected as they explore in a powerful meeting of hearts and minds. But as they find themselves being drawn closer, both know that this will probably be their only night together.

Jesse, a young American, and Céline, a French student, meet on a train travelling from Budapest to Vienna. Jesse is going to Vienna to catch a flight back to the United States, whereas Céline is returning to university in Paris after visiting her grandmother. They soon become immersed in conversation about themselves, relationships and life experiences, and sensing that they are developing a connection, Jesse asks Céline to disembark with him. He has to catch a flight early in the morning and does not have enough money to rent a room, so he suggests they roam around the city together for the night. Céline, already developing similar feelings for Jesse and wishing to continue their conversation, agrees.

After visiting a few landmarks in Vienna, they share a kiss at the top of the Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel at sunset and start to feel a romantic connection. As they continue to roam, they begin to talk more openly with each other, with conversations ranging from topics about love, life, religion, and their observations of the city. Céline tells Jesse that her last boyfriend broke up with her six months ago, claiming that she "loved him too much". When questioned, Jesse reveals he had initially come to Europe to spend time with his girlfriend who was studying in Madrid, but they had broken up when she was avoiding him while he was there. He decided to take a cheap flight home out of Vienna, but since it did not leave for two weeks he bought a Eurail pass and had been travelling on trains around Europe.

When they are walking alongside the Donaukanal they are approached by a man who, instead of begging, offers to write them a poem with a word of their choice in it. Jesse and Céline decide on the word "milkshake", and are soon presented with the beautiful and very appropriate poem, Delusion Angel. In a traditional Viennese café, Céline begins to play a game whereby they stage fake telephone conversations with each other, playing each others' friends they pretend to call. Céline reveals that she was ready to get off the train with Jesse before he convinced her. Jesse reveals that after he broke up with his girlfriend, he bought a flight that was not much cheaper, and all he really wanted was an escape from his life. Within these conversations each is free to express their feelings for the other in a more truthful and less self-conscious way than they would by making direct statements.

They admit their attraction to each other and how the night has made them feel, though they understand that they probably will not see each other again when they leave. They simply decide to make the best of what time they have left, ending the night in an implied sexual embrace. Early the following morning they make their way to the railway station for Céline to catch her train to Paris. The moment when they must part finally arrives with a sudden and very emotional goodbye, but with them agreeing to meet at the same place in six months time. Céline boards her train and Jesse walks out of the station to get his bus to the airport.

A portrait of two strangers, both in search of love, who make a romantic, intellectual, and spiritual bond with one another. Questions about fate and the transitory nature of relationships are raised, then left open for us to ponder. Full of wonderfully amusing, touching and insightful moments of bittersweet poignancy, Jesse and Céline's connection is built on a natural chemistry. Although the narrative is entirely dialogue-driven, much also relies upon their body language, subtle facial expressions, and the silences between the characters. The absolute beauty of it lies in its perfection as a simple love story – of two lives suddenly thrown together in the midst of reality, and the ensuing night of simple love that follows.