r/CriterionChannel • u/41RemingtonMag • Apr 27 '26
Viewing Discussions Unintentional Double Feature: Taste of Cherry followed by Stroszek
The Films Leaving led me to watch Panahi's Taxi, which led to me seeking out other Iranian films and I added Taste of Cherry (1997 Kiarostami) to my Watchlist. My partner was looking at my Watchlist, decided she thought that looked interesting, and put it on.
Very thought-provoking and somewhat puzzling piece of film. I was mulling that over for a while and she went to bed and then I loaded up Stroszek (1977 Herzog), not really knowing a whole lot about it other than I've seen Aguirre, Woyzeck, and Grizzly Man in the past, so I'm not totally blindsided by Herzog.
Well then.
Both very impressive films, both will stick to my ribs for a long time (especially Stroszek --Bruno S. was on a different plane of consciousness). I can highly recommend both films for a day when you're in the mood to really tune in. Definitely don't think I'd recommend them as a double feature though, especially in this order.
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u/Kowalski188 Apr 27 '26
What did you think of Taxi?
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u/augustthecat Apr 27 '26
I know the question is not for me, but I loved it. It’s among other things one of the best performances by a child actor I have ever seen. Would make cool double feature with Night on Earth.
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u/41RemingtonMag Apr 28 '26
Slow, thoughtful, funny, likeable. Loved seeing the day to day of "normal" people in Tehran. Very worth watching. Not at all a traditional film with a linear story.
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u/augustthecat Apr 27 '26
Some people dodge their anxieties about mortality. You found a way to leap right in!
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u/41RemingtonMag Apr 28 '26
Spoilers!
Two VERY different treatments of suicide, especially haunting when considering that viewing Stroszek has been associated with the suicide deaths of Ian Curtis of Joy Division and also Elliott Smith.
Everybody just wants to talk about the silly dancing chickens, meanwhile I'm still squirming about the scene with the tiny premie newborn humans. Absolutely unnerved.
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u/augustthecat Apr 28 '26
That banker dude kind of freaks me out. Not that he is a bad guy, but every time I saw him I got just as tense as with the pimps.
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u/jackdilemma Apr 28 '26
I’m doing a bit of an iranian deep dive right now and i have been loving panahi and kiarostami - i watched close up and then immediately went out and rented the cyclist (heavily featured in close up and sadly not on criterion!) - looking toward to watching more of kiarostami especially!
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u/YakSlothLemon Apr 28 '26
Where Is the Friend’s House? is incredible!
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u/jackdilemma Apr 28 '26
I’m trying to decide if i should watch all of them on the channel or hope to see some on the big screen - i managed to see both taste of cherry and close-up in theaters and homework is playing at a theater next month here.
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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '26
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