The Willow Tree

In Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s visually captivating film, Parviz Parastui stars as Youssef, a literature professor and writer who has been blind since childhood. When a medical procedure restores his sight, the results are less than positive. Youssef becomes depressed and reacts violently to what many around him believe is a new chance at life. The film is a meditation on life’s complexities and what can happen when a person’s dreams come true, but they aren’t ready for the challenge of fulfilling those dreams. The film threatens to be crushed by the heavy weight of its sadness, but Majidi keeps it from veering into melodrama.

Shelf Talk: Those familiar with leading Iranian director Majidi, whose work includes 1999’s brilliant Children of Heaven, will certainly want to see this 2005 effort. Also be sure to recommend Willow Tree to anyone interested in contemporary Middle Eastern cinema.