Review of Leila

Leila (I) (1997)
9/10
An observing piece on a tormented soul.
22 August 1999
Ingmar Bergman would be proud of this film that enters the soul of an Iranian woman and effects the heart of those who observe. Set in upper-suburbia Teheran where life for Leila takes a turn when she finds herself unable to have children. This has an affect on her marriage caused by outside interference of the family. Leila wants to keep the peace and goes along with the charade of getting her husband a second wife to have children with, a situation that affects everyone. The camera catches the distinct feature of the actors as an over abundance of dialogue takes over. But the dialogue, (with some bad subtitles that is easily overlooked), carries the story onwards while we the audience enter Leila's tormented mind which is the centre stage of this beautifully crafted piece of cinema. Occasionally you want to kick Leila and tell her to get her act together and rebel against her husband's family. But tradition has a hold of her and she remains silent, sending herself into a slow deteriorating state of existence. A tradition that I can almost relate too.
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