Ferdowsi: A dusty, earnest look at a legend

Should you watch this?

If you have a soft spot for historical dramas that feel like they were pulled from a library basement, you might find something here. If you need your biopics to move at the speed of a modern blockbuster, you will probably be checking your watch within ten minutes.

It’s not exactly a thrill ride. It feels more like a long, respectful nod to a guy who wrote a lot of very important verses. 📜

The Rhythm of the Thing

The movie moves with this odd, stilted energy. Everything feels a bit like a stage play where the furniture is just slightly too heavy to move comfortably. You can tell Sepenta really cared about the source material, almost to a fault. Sometimes it feels like the camera is just waiting for the actors to finish their lines so it can finally cut away.

There is a scene near the middle where the poet is just sitting there, staring at a scroll. It goes on for so long I started wondering if the projector had jammed. It’s not boring, exactly. It’s just… intense in a way that feels very old.

Odd Little Details

I couldn't help but notice the background extras. A few of them seem to be looking directly into the lens during the heavy emotional bits. It’s distracting, but in a funny way. It makes the whole thing feel human, like a high school production that somehow got a decent budget for costumes.

Also, the lighting is very consistent. Maybe too consistent? It lacks the dramatic shadows you see in something like Ombres et lumières, where the dark bits actually feel like they mean something. Here, everything is just… visible.

I found myself comparing the weight of the dialogue to Something to Think About. Both films have this earnest desire to say something big about the human experience. But while that one feels nimble, Ferdowsi feels like it’s wearing lead boots.

Final Thoughts (or lack thereof)

I don’t know if I’d call this a 'success' in the way critics usually do. It’s not polished. It’s definitely not perfect. But it has a pulse.

You can tell it was made by people who wanted to honor a poet rather than just sell tickets. That counts for something. Even if the pacing is a total disaster at times. 🖋️