I saw Gita as well as the 2011 Oscar winning Iranian film, A Separation, recently with our film group. Both films were excellent and I consider Gita to be on an equal footing with the more well known "A Separation". Both films were intense family dramas and the 8 person film group loved them. Both films were hard to watch but even harder not to continue to watch. They both drew me in and kept me glued to the TV through the film credits.
I thought Gita's character was a little overwrought but that may be due to cultural differences. While the story line in both films was great, what was of equal interest to me was how southern European- like middle class Iranians and Iranian life was depicted to be in both films. They appeared very familiar to this upper middle class American although there are very obvious differences in religion and culture. Perhaps if more Americans saw these films, this country would not be so hostile to Iran.
I thought Gita's character was a little overwrought but that may be due to cultural differences. While the story line in both films was great, what was of equal interest to me was how southern European- like middle class Iranians and Iranian life was depicted to be in both films. They appeared very familiar to this upper middle class American although there are very obvious differences in religion and culture. Perhaps if more Americans saw these films, this country would not be so hostile to Iran.
