Rock music can be about a lot of things, but one of its primary fuels for being is rebellion. "No One Knows About Persian Cats" embodies that fundamental truth by being about young musicians trying to rock out in present day Iran. The trailer starts with text stating laws are in force in Iran against free speech and this film shouldn't even exist. First scene is a pair of Iranian women playing traditional music indoors when a young couple enter and ask for passports and visas to leave the country to play music in London. An electric guitar is pulled out of hiding. When one of the players ask what type of music she plays, she says indie rock. The shrouded woman smiles and admits 50 cent and Madonna are her favorite.
That's what it's like in Iran. If you look close enough, there is a population plugged into world culture and wanting self expression. This trailer is a joy to watch, because it shows these young rockers trying to put together a concert in secret. The band has practice sessions in basements that are interrupted by passing police cars. They search for a space to bring together people without making a noise. The final scene is great with the band playing underground and their fans raising lighters in the air.
What's amazing is this movie was shot in Iran in secret. This could've been a documentary about indie bands in Iran, but the fact it's a fictional film shows an artistic determination against all odds. Living in the states, it's hard to know what is really going on in the Middle East. There's so much change in that part of the world, but politics filter our view from both ends. Films like this provide a more honest view of what people are like there. The trailer captures the universality of music.
Opening April 16, 2010, Verdict: Must See
Comments