No Bears

I don't know. Better than bad but not enough of impact

Unsurprisingly, this isn't one I've heard of - such entries tend to be either surprisingly good or absolutely up themselves with the critics are just showing off they've heard of them. And, unfortunately, the fact that the director of this is now in jail suggests the latter - but here's hoping, eh?!? Well - "complex metafiction" doesn't really begin to describe what we've got here. In real life, Jafar Panahi is a director who is banned from making films and leaving the country. And, in this film, he plays a director who is banned from making films and leaving the country - and he's making a film featuring two actors who are planning on leaving the country. Except that, as the film progresses, it turns out that it's more of a documentary because they really are planning to leave the country. Hilarity ensues! Well, no - not really. I'd have to say I found the whole thing very confusing - partly due to the uber-meta nature of it all and also due to the very alien existence of all involved, particularly in the scenes shot in the village of Jaban, where Jafar goes to (spectacularly unsuccessfully) lay low from the authorities. I'm not sure whether it's Jafar's acting ability or inability that comes to the fore here but he also seems thoroughly confused by the place - I suspect it's the latter, but I'm happy to give him the benefit of the doubt. Considering the rest of the cast, I've absolutely no idea whether they are actors, film crew or complete amateurs - let's just say the performances are "natural" (they certainly don't feel out of place in the overall confusion). Surprisingly, given the overall confusion involved, there are actually no bears involved, but it is an interesting title, because the threat of bears is used to scare people away from various areas when there have never been any bears - but there are actually many worse things than bears which people just have to accept or ignore, until they are no longer able to do so. It does, to some extent, manage to reach a conclusion but I'd struggle to say I found it, or any of the film, particularly satisfactory - yes, it's a very worthy entry and Jafar has to be commended for his dedication to the craft, but for me that doesn't make it a great film (although I accept it didn't do me any harm to be educated in various areas). It will be interesting to see whether I fare any better with the next Iranian film on the list, which continues the confusingly meta theme because it's directed by Jafar's son (who is merely in exile) and is about a family's trip to the border, attempting to leave the country... At the time of writing, this film is available to stream on The Criterion Channel (I swear each new film brings up a new streaming subscription service) and to rent in all the usual locations, but I really don't think I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Surprisingly relaxed on the beginning; deeply moving by the end.

I started online dating to find a better half. I was matched with this lady living in the next city. I fell deeply in love that I can't pass a night without us conversing. I got fond of her and I sent money and gifts on several occasions by requests from her or free surprises from me. After a while, she suggested we both invest in the future we are both planning. She referred me to a Crypto capitalist where I can invest my retirement funds to yield more and that's how I ended up losing $430.000.00 of cryptos. I later realized she was fake and probably some guy on the internet from a country I wasn't even aware of. I searched the internet for a solution and that's when I reached Cyber Genie being positively reviewed by their previous clients. I'm glad I contacted and reported the whole situation to him, I got all my sent money recovered. ( Cybergenie (@)Cyberservices(.) com ) is their contact...

"This movie is a political statement, and not an emotional experience with any thought or feeling invested in it. " Yup--the reviewer who said that got it right. I can only imagine there's been a campaign to promote the movie as a show of support for the director. There's just not much to grab your interest here on a human level. Even the most basic elements of the plot don't seem driven by understandable human motives (e.g., why the filmmaker is in the village in the first place), and the film doesn't even play with multiple possibilities to answer the question. Other plot elements feel forced and incoherent (something related to dust and smugglers). Ultimately feels empty.

A great movie with layers and layers of storylines, truths and fictions. Remarkable, all of this "impromptu" moviemaking is beautifully filmed. Scene after scene is perfectly shot and beautifully framed. Surprisingly, it recalls Ozu, the Japanese master of composing shot after shot. Audacious politically, cinematically and emotionally, it is truly exceptional.

No Bears is my very first introduction to Jafar Panahi's body of work. Panahi's courage as an artist (both onscreen and off-screen) has truly uplifted my soul, while the story of No Bears has truly devastated me. The story and script of No Bears was persuasive and important, bolstered as such by a dazzlingly clear and sober dialogue, and the flawless performances by this lesser-known Iranian cast. That being said, I believe it Panahi's self-assured handle with form which was able to produced a viewing experience that felt so complete.

This is the best movie I have seen in a while. It has a heart as large the Iranian desert. Panahi is the master.

A masterpiece! An absolute must see.

It has no heart. There are so many opportunities to bring us into the lives of the individual characters in the movie, and each time the director passes on that opportunity. The only character that we spend significant time with is an expressionless Panahi, who makes vague comments and takes unexpected stances without any added insight into his person. The end result is that we don't get to know him either. This movie is a political statement, and not an emotional experience with any thought or feeling invested in it. It does not bear the human touch that makes a movie like Separation a loving, heartbreaking experience. I'm sad.