After seeing the excellent Skin (2020-also reviewed) mix the Iran New Wave with magical realism,I decided to check the credits of co-writers/co-directors Bahman and Bahram Ark. Discovering that the short the Ark's made before doing their feature film debut with Skin was online,I went in search of the animal.

View on the film:

Clawing into the line shared between animals and mankind that they would continue to explore later in their feature film, co-writing/co-director brothers Bahman & Bahram Ark's stylishly twist the dark Fantasy of a man dressing up as a ram, into allegorical Body-Horror, via a earthy atmosphere pulled in rugged first-person tracking shots, and gushes of blood across the screen, reflecting the animalistic treatment inflicted on migrating people.

Cutting the fence with bolt cutters, the screenplay by the Ark's keep the movie dialogue-free,with only the odd fragment of sound from the TV offering a human voice. The Ark's bring a vivid dialogue out in the non-verbal communication of the unnamed man, who digs into a struggle to disguise himself as a ram, in the shadow of the towering/ oppressive border fence.

Persian-language (primarily Iranian) cinema is acclaimed for poetic allegory, moral depth, and inventive ways of navigating censorship. It often uses non-professional actors, minimalism and symbolism to explore moral dilemmas, social issues, and the human condition under political constraints.

Leila Hatami and Payman Maadi in A Separation (2011)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

A man who wants to pass the border, disguises himself as a ram.

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