Kiarostami is dismissed by some as a charlatan, the emperor's new
clothes of world cinema. Maybe this is because the Iranian master uses
none of the predictable conventions or manipulative tricks of
Hollywood, never telling you when to laugh or cry, who to root for or
reject. Instead, he treats you with respect, simply placing you in a
world and letting you find your own way around. This kind of freedom is so
radical, it can be disorientating; you may feel confused, cheated,
bored. But persevere. See the film again. You might just find a new way of
looking not only at cinema, but life itself.
