The Cake Heard Around the World
The Film that isn’t a Film
This is Not a Film is a documentary produced and filmed by Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba
Mirtahmasb. This is Not a Film is about a middle aged director and his struggles of
making movies in his country because of the strict laws on film and censorship. In this
documentary we learn that Jafar Panahi is sentenced six years in prison and is banned
for 20 years on making film, leaving the country, or giving media interviews for
“propaganda against the regime.” Bored and waiting for is verdict he decides to record
himself and his day to day life as his possible last film. In doing so he records
his idea for an upcoming film that he could make if his career isn’t over. Also
he briefly films a scene about the fireworks going on, in relation to Chaharshambe Suri
The film culminates as he chronicles a young man who his on trash duty in the
apartment. They talk about the corruptions of the movement and schooling. The young
man shares that he will be getting his masters degree but there will be no job for him.
Panahi continues to ask him questions about his life and plans for the future. Meanwhile
their going down an elevator, floor to floor as the young man goes door-to-door asking
for trash. The movie concludes with the man delivering the litter outside, seeing violent
flames in the street on the other side this giant gate. The presence of the gated doors
gives off an eerie distant feeling about the world beyond the gates and what it holds.
Beyond the Gates of an Ordinary Film
The whole movie is surrounded by the outside noises of fireworks. It makes one believe
that society is in chaos. A curiosity to unfold. Then for one to know that all this was
documented and uploaded on one little flash drive and smuggled through a birthday
cake is mind blowing. That such a powerful film had to be hidden in a cake
and pass through international securities without getting caught. The film renders that
even against all odds, a man consecrated to a life of film, can achieve his dreams
despite political oppression.
This is Not a Film traveled from Iran smuggled via a cake and premiered
at Cannes in 2011. The film is now continuing to make its wide-spread
impact around the world. This bold act of creative resistance gives
us a window into world we normally wouldn’t have access to.
Find this “must watch” film at a theater near you.
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