About Elly - Movie Review

Watched this Irani movie and as always with Irani movies, got completely sucked into the drama of human life, of what lies beneath the seemingly tranquil surface. A small, weekend picnic involving a few young families also serves as the perfect opportunity for one of the wives to set up a meeting between a divorced man in the group and her child's school teacher. Into this seemingly innocuous setting comes a flood of drama that pushes everyone to the limit.

What if there was more to the school teacher's history than is known? What if her secret life makes it easy for the others to judge her in her absence? What if there is no way to explain her absence to her near and dear? What if the worst comes true?

The way each of the characters show their true character under stress is sown very well. Judgmental, blaming, justifying, escaping, lying and finally the group coercing one person to go with the majority and hide the one single truth that could save the absent person's honour. Some parts were stretched for dramatic effect surely and some actions did not make sense fully, but human actions rarely make sense anyway.

Disturbing. Beautiful. Directed by Asghar Farhadi. The beautiful and talented Golshifteh Farahani stars. The Iranis make movies like no other.