Bolhavas: A dusty, messy, and surprisingly heavy trip

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you want a polished, modern drama with quick cuts and a clean script, skip this. Bolhavas is rough around the edges and honestly, it kind of drags its feet. But if you’re into older, grittier stuff that feels like it was filmed on a shoestring budget in the middle of nowhere, you might find something here.

It’s a sad story. Like, really sad. If you’re having a bad week, maybe put this on the shelf for later. 😩

The Tehran Shuffle

The story follows a tribal chief’s son who ends up in Tehran after an accident. The contrast between the village and the city is laid on pretty thick. He ends up bonding with his cousin, and for a second, you think, 'Oh, maybe he’s going to be okay.'

But the movie has a weird way of making you feel like he’s never actually going to be okay. He just wanders through these scenes looking lost. It reminds me a bit of the aimless energy in Daphnis and Chloe, though much less romantic and way more depressing.

Wait, what happened to the wife?

The wife’s part of the story is the hardest to watch. She attempts suicide in a moment of pure despair. It’s handled in a way that feels almost too blunt for the movie’s own good. It happens, we move on, and the camera doesn't really know how to deal with the weight of it.

Sometimes the film feels like it’s trying to be a tragedy, but then it forgets to be a drama and just becomes a series of people standing in doorways looking sad. It’s disjointed. But maybe that’s the point? Life doesn’t have a clean transition between scenes, I guess.

Small observations from the edit:

• The sound design is… well, let's just say you’ll hear a lot of wind.
• There is a shot of a street in Tehran that lingers so long I started looking for background actors to do something interesting. They didn’t.
• The costumes feel surprisingly lived-in, which is a nice touch.
• The ending hits you like a brick, but not in the way the director probably intended. It just stops.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even close to the polish of The Rage of Paris, but it’s got this weird, heavy vibe that sticks to you. I kept thinking about the tribal chief just sitting there, waiting for a son who is never really coming home. Even when he does come back, he’s not really there, right?

Whatever. It’s a messy watch, but I don't regret seeing it. Just bring a snack and maybe don't expect a tight plot. 🎞️