From Five 2006

This is an image from Abbas Kiarostami's film "Five," a series of long takes that invite contemplation. In contrast to Iran's history of politically charged cinema, Kiarostami offers a slice of life, seemingly untouched by the social and political turmoil of its time. Yet, this choice is itself a statement. The lack of overt commentary invites us to find meaning in the everyday, a challenge to the notion that Iranian art must always be a direct reflection of its struggles. Shot along the Caspian Sea, a place of leisure and natural beauty, the image creates a serene, almost meditative state, and yet the ducks themselves suggest a social order, a hierarchy of color and movement that might subtly mirror the human world. To truly appreciate this image, we might turn to the study of Iranian cinema, social histories of leisure, and philosophical texts on the poetics of the everyday. Kiarostami’s work reminds us that even the simplest images are embedded in complex social and cultural contexts.