Abbas Kiarostami

Director

Abbas Kiarostami was one of the most important directors in Iranian and international cinema. With his calm, poetic imagery and clear humanistic stance, he had a lasting influence on world cinema from the 1970s onwards. The multi-award-winning filmmaker began his career in Iran with short films and children's films and later developed an unmistakable style that artfully interweaves reality and fiction. With CUSTOMER'S WISH (2010), which he directed, Kiarostami created a work about identity, truth, and appearance that premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival. The film, starring Juliette Binoche, who won the award for Best Actress there, is one of his most internationally renowned works. In it, Kiarostami once again succeeded in blurring the boundaries between documentary and fiction—a central feature of his work. His most important films also include Taste of Cherry (1997), which was honored with the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and The Wind Will Carry Us (1999), which received the Grand Prix du Jury there. Close-Up (1990) and Ten (2002) are also considered outstanding examples of his minimalist, deeply philosophical style. Many of his works have been shown at festivals around the world and have won numerous awards, including in Venice, Locarno, and Toronto. Abbas Kiarostami remained active until his death in 2016, most recently as a photographer and screenwriter. His influence on modern auteur cinema remains unbroken, and his films are now considered among the most important works in film history.

Films on Sooner

Certified Copy

2010

106 mins

Drama, Romance

During a trip to Italy, to promote his book, an English author delves into themes like authenticity, identity, and the nature of human relationships.