A Bird Confined

Directed by: Saeed Nouri
Length: 85 minutes
Category: Feature
Country: Iran
Screened in: 2012 Festival Cinema Invisible

Synopsis

A Bird Confined or A Few Moments Before, exposes the cumbersome customs and traditions of country life, and the shortcomings resulted from lack education and jobs within the Iranian rural youths. The movie is set in a village near Golpayegan.
Ahmadreza, a young boy, dreams about flying. When he studies a lesson entitled “Dreams of Flying” in school, he becomes so infatuated that he decides to experience it in reality. He tears images of wings and an early airplane made by Otto from his textbook, makes up paper planes, and blows them high. Coming home from school, he breaks down all traps in the yards to release the doves. He is thrown out of school and is punished at home as well. Running away, he is seen following an extermination airplane touching the poison sprayed down. He is then caught and returned to the village.
Parallel to Ahmadreza’s story is that of a beautiful young carpet weaver girl who is also strapped in the life in small village. The girl is in love with a young man who leaves for Tehran in search of better job and life. The film ends with the girl standing by the mirror preparing to leave. She hums: “A fairy enters. She is fearful, trembling. She puts her feet into the g water.”
The girl combs her hairs, repeats an address few times, then looks into the mirror and practices, “Please sir, Tehran!”