The Willow Tree

Majid Majidi's film, which begins with a man getting his eyes back. Youssef has been blind since he was eight. He teaches literature at a university, is married and has a daughter. His life is settled. Then a corneal transplant lets him see. The real subject is what comes after: sight does not heal the man, it takes him apart. He sees his wife's face for the first time and is unhappy. He sees his own reflection and registers his age. He understands that the life he built while blind stood inside a boundary, and once the boundary is gone his wants become boundless too. Religion and gratitude are always present in Majidi's cinema; here he writes their opposite, ingratitude. Youssef devaluing what he has been given is the film's moral centre. Parviz Parastui plays Youssef. The photography follows Majidi's usual preference: natural light, trees, water and the turning of the seasons carry the emotional map of the story. A strong example for anyone who likes Iranian cinema and films built around moral questions. For a viewer who wants a sympathetic lead, Youssef becomes more repellent as the film goes on, and the film does not defend him.