Iran Zamin Cinema

This video essay draws on examples from Kiarostami’s major works: Where is the Friend’s House? (1987), Close-Up (1991), And Life Goes On (1992), Through the Olive Trees (1994), Taste of Cherry (1997), and The Wind Will Carry Us (1999). These works, created during what is often considered his most mature period—the 1980s and 1990s—mark a clear transition from socially grounded realism to what can be described as poetic realism.

The video essay is inspired by the narrative theory of David Bordwell, specifically his concept of parametric narration, which he introduced in his book Narration in the Fiction Film (1985). Parametric narration refers to a mode of cinematic storytelling in which stylistic elements—such as camerawork, editing, sound, or color—function relatively independently from the plot, and in some cases may even become more prominent than the story itself. The viewer is thus encouraged to focus on patterns of style, their rhythms, and aesthetic relationships.

However, it is important to note that Kiarostami does not employ the parametric form in its purest sense. In his films, stylistic play is often more than just an aesthetic gesture—it serves as a tool for generating deep, often philosophical meaning, which is central to his storytelling.

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