Crimson Gold (2003)

86% of critics liked it
(73 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(1,414 ratings)

Jafar Panahi's Crimson Gold was written by Abbas Kiarostami, who also wrote Panahi's The White Balloon. The film opens in the midst of a jewelry store robbery. In a single shot, a hulk of a man, trapped by the store's security system, shoots the store manager. Moments later, with an excited crowd… More Jafar Panahi's Crimson Gold was written by Abbas Kiarostami, who also wrote Panahi's The White Balloon. The film opens in the midst of a jewelry store robbery. In a single shot, a hulk of a man, trapped by the store's security system, shoots the store manager. Moments later, with an excited crowd gathering on the street outside, he turns the gun on himself. The film then flashes back several weeks. Hussein (Hossain Emadeddin) (the robber) is working as a pizza delivery man with his best friend, Ali (Kamyar Sheisi). He's engaged to Ali's sister (Azita Rayeji). Ali finds a woman's purse containing a gold ring, which has been cut, and a receipt for an incredibly expensive Italian necklace. Intrigued by the amount of money changing hands, Hussein and Ali track down the store, but the snooty jeweler (Shahram Vaziri) turns them away. They decide to return to the store wearing suits with Ali's sister, to see if there's anything they can afford. Meanwhile, Hussein does his pizza deliveries. At one point, he tries to make a delivery to a building where the military are arresting young people for drinking alcohol and socializing with the opposite sex. Later, he delivers to a wealthy young man (Pourang Nakhael) who has just moved back to Tehran after living in America for years. The man invites Hussein into his lavish home so he can complain about the trouble he's having adjusting to life in Iran. Hussein's unpleasant experiences eventually push him to the breaking point. Lead actor Emadeddin is a diagnosed schizophrenic and real-life pizza delivery man. Crimson Gold was banned in Iran. It won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival and was selected for the 2003 New York Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Jafar Panahi
Written By: Abbas Kiarostami
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Feb 6, 2004 Limited
On DVD: Jul 20, 2004
Studio: Wellspring Media

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
I'm glad I saw Crimson Gold. Watching it is like getting a peek behind the curtain.
Anthony Lane, New Yorker
Panahi's movie, unsurprisingly, has been outlawed in Iran. Nobody likes a prophet.
Vic Vogler, Denver Post
The movie can feel slow and tedious, but the supper it makes us work for is nourishing.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
It's every bit as outwardly unruffled as its hero, but inwardly it seethes with the very same gradually accumulated rage. A devastating and beautiful film.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A film both shocking and humane, as if Taxi Driver were somehow rewritten by Chekhov.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
It's the singular presence of Hussein Emadeddin -- a nonprofessional like all the other actors Panahi has used in his films -- that gives the film much of its soul and mystery.
Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
The film's sociopolitical themes are all the more powerful for being subtly expressed through a starkly realistic tale.
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
An incisive portrait of one man's quiet rage at, and heartbreakingly violent response to, social inequality.
Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Brutal class realities in contemporary Iran
Jay Antani, Los Angeles Alternative
an artful failure, a moped-fueled odyssey into dramatic weariness and monotony
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a slow-moving but ultimately intriguing character study.
Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer
It settles into the typical reflective mode of Iranian films, but something is happening: A human being is slowly, sullenly, silently approaching his combustion point.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Its cumulative power will smack viewers with all the force of a rattlesnake to the cheek.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Quietly brilliant psychological drama.
Jim Slotek, Jam! Movies
As overly familiar as director Jafar Panahi's setup and delivery seems, its freshness is in its setting.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
A work of poetry
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Though it sometimes seems as plodding as its burly protagonist,...an intriguing, if imperfect, piece of work.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Hassan V

A real measured and poetic presentation of class and pride in Iranian society and in just human existence in itself. The film is about a pizza delivery man who attempts to rob a jewellery store. Abbas Kiarostami wrote the script for this film, supposedly after meeting with Quintin… More
A real measured and poetic presentation of class and pride in Iranian society and in just human existence in itself. The film is about a pizza delivery man who attempts to rob a jewellery store. Abbas Kiarostami wrote the script for this film, supposedly after meeting with Quintin Tarantino and you can tell in its non-linear narrative. The film starts with the robbery and him killing himself, then the rest of the film is the build up. This non-linear narrative with the neo-realist style of Iranian new wave does create something void of tension but full of exploration.

Cast

Shahram Vaziri
as The Jeweler
Pourang Nakhael
as Pourang

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Crimson Gold (2003)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Hassan V

Cast

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