Close Up Long Shot (1996), Iran, Moslem Mansouri, Mahmoud Chokrollahi
(Review from June 19, 2025)
I’ve seen and loved Close Up but after Long Shot I’m struggling with it morally and philosophically. To see how Kiarostami kinda filmed and left, it makes it harder to love the film. I liked Close Up. I loved Close Up. I really wanna love Close Up. But should I love it? Or perhaps it’s not all bad in the end, I think as I attempt to find a solution and happy ending?
Take a deep breath, kid.
I think I still love Close-Up. But not in the same way, and that’s not a bad thing. After this documentary, I see what the film is now. Deep human empathy (as I always believed) with flaws. Because we as humans are deeply flawed. Even in the most incredible acts of good.
What an incredible but tragic man Sabzian was. But I guess that’s the way the world goes sometimes. Rest in peace, you legend.
(Wrote August 8, 2025)
Close-Up Long Shot, to some, is just another Criterion supplements feature but to me, and some others, it is a documentary that transcends expectations and subtly changes one’s life. It makes them question their love of such a critically acclaimed “masterpiece”, rated 4.4/5 on Letterboxd and 8.2/10 on IMDb. Look at those high ratings.
If you want to feel something, I recommend this documentary, of course after watching Close Up (1990).
10/10
