are subjected to

A-

B+

C-

B

A

A

D

The story centers on an alleged giant who is given a remote

control and sent to Tehran, Iran. There, he offers a single wish to an old man

who is mourning the loss of his martyred soldier son. The giant manages to

gain access to the city’s surveillance system and uses it to find an individual

with a war-related wish, just as the old man has asked.

The theme of war is center stage in the film, and, whilst the giant claims he

can grant wishes, he is unable to make most of the old man’s requests come

true as they usually involve a dead soldier being brought back to life. The

giant insists that this is because war is created by man, and he is not capable

of undoing any of man’s creations.

The movie blurs the lines between the Hollywood stage, as represented in

Iran, and real life. After the giant refuses the old man’s request to bring a

dead soldier back to life, the giant suggests that the old man might perhaps

have better luck requesting this wish from Quentin Tarantino. The giant

also makes a reference to Tarantino’s Kill Bill, and another to Tom Hank’s

character in Saving Private Ryan when he is attempting to describe to the old

man an event that has taken place. Ryerson-alumni Mazdak Taebi had his

hands on most elements of this film’s creation, as he wrote the screenplay,

and was also the producer and the director. He was clearly trying to convey

how the media and Hollywood distorts reality for many people.

The sound was often not in sync in respect to the characters’ dialogues,

and the dubbing was frequently delayed; it’s as if while the movie is being

shown, there is a translator in the back typing the words on screen. The

movie is interesting, but rather lengthy, and it is almost not worth comparing

to most of the films that I’ve been able to see in this year’s festival.