The Sacred Film Sofa has survived its first Friday film night. This week's film, "Offside", was delightful - a poignant Iranian film that's both very funny and yet also critical about the regime. It's about some young women who tried to get into the Iran vs Bahrain game in Tehran prior to the 2006 World Cup (women aren't allowed in sport stadiums in Iran). It had a wonderful cast of nonprofessional actors and was riveting - I'd meant to do a series of pause shots so that the photographs wouldn't look quite so bad, but I couldn't bear to pause it. Great film, which is generous toward all the characters, both the women and the soldiers. Sadly, the director, Jafar Panahi, is currently in prison.

I saw the white balloon. Lovely. I also saw a moving troubling Iranian film called five circles or something like that which you would probably like. Its very good. Anyway Circles is the keyword. Maybe it is called the Circle. Offside must be about soccer. My sister was coaching some girls soccer in united arab emirates for a while. Whenever a man came along, all the girls would run off the field and throw on their muslim garb. Can you imagine how frustrated my sister must have been. Oh yes very sad and bad that this director is in prison. ShangriLa · 2011-02-05: 06:21

Looks like a great movie--- I want to see it. Shannamuppet · 2011-02-05: 08:09

Sounds like a good one. Oweena · 2011-02-05: 14:36

My hat's off to Jafar Panahi for daring to make the film. MelanieO · 2011-02-06: 21:41