The Chorus

Abbas Kiarostami's 1982 short film follows an elderly man who uses a hearing aid. When the noise of the city disturbs him he switches it off; back at home his granddaughter knocks at the door and he does not hear. All the film's tension comes from that simple situation. The girl waits at the door and keeps calling, and children passing in the street join her; whether the sound will be heard at some point is the only question. Kiarostami worked at an institution producing work for children and this film comes from that period. It runs under twenty minutes; sound design is the main instrument and the final section is built almost entirely on sound. Who it's for: those curious about Iranian cinema and Kiarostami's early work. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a feature; this is a short film built on a single situation.