Films/DVD Asylum

A Scorsese rescue, "The Downpour." A thick-glassed,

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intellectual teacher (poorly paid) in Iran is assigned to a small, rural village. Shortly after arrival, he falls hard for a local beauty--- but she's considered the certain future bride of the well-off town butcher, who has a violent, bullying, protective streak. As the teacher dedicates himself to improving the school and its deplorable conditions, he faces not only the usual difficulties, i.e. resources, but an entrenched power structure all too willing to take credit for his Herculean labors.

This film was made during a period of intense censorship, when the secret police routinely "disappeared" dissidents--- it's remarkable the director was able to survive making such an oblique to us but clear to Iranian viewers, film. It, however, was itself "disappeared," rescued by the fact that the director fled to the US and brought a copy (highly damaged) with him: enter Scorsese and his. It's full of experimental touches so common to Western film in the early 70s, which is this film's original release time frame. It's amazing to consider this was the first film work of the director; he was still to graduate from film school!

On Criterion Channel and highest recommendation.

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