Jafar Panahi's Post-Arrest Cinema -- Revealing Ecstatic Truths #100

In this very special episode, Dhruv, Aryan, and Ashwani welcome Amith -- handler of the now inactive Mactacritic page on Instagram -- to celebrate the works of arguably THE essential filmmaker of our times, Jafar Panahi. The Iranian filmmaker, already known internationally for his docu-fiction work before his arrest, molded that aesthetic in defiant, perceptive, and self-reflexive ways post-arrest. The objective -- continue to reveal stories about people around him, which meant turning the camera on himself because of his arrest. Listen to the full episode to hear us first discuss the context surrounding Panahi's arrest, then each of the five films the director made during the filmmaking and travel ban he continues serving. The objective -- not only to situate these films within the context of Panahi's arrest but also to champion the formal excellence that the director often sneaks into his films in the same way these films have, sometimes, needed to be snuck under the noses of Iranian authorities to be sent to international festivals! Also, cameo (vocal) appearance by the great Werner Herzog! TIME CODES Introduction to Jafar Panahi: [03:15 - 11:36] "This is Not a Film" (2011): [11:36 - 38:44] "Closed Curtain" (2013): [38:44 - 46:45] "Taxi" (2015): [46:45 - 01:10:17] "3 Faces" (2018): [01:10:17 - 01:20:34] "No Bears" (2022): [01:20:34 - 01:53:55] You can read Ashwani's High on Film piece on "No Bears" here: https://www.highonfilms.com/no-bears-2022-movie-ending-explained-themes-analyzed/ Follow our Instagram page:   https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! You can also follow us on Instagram at: Amith: https://www.instagram.com/_amith.km.__/ Aryan: https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm Ashwani: https://www.instagram.com/ashwanirdeshak/ Dhruv: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/ Follow us on Letterboxd at: Dhruv: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/ Amith: https://letterboxd.com/mactacritic/ Ashwani: https://letterboxd.com/trast_akt/ Aryan: https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/