GFF 2010: No-one Knows About Persian Cats

 

There’s an intriguing story surrounding the production of No-one Knows About Persian Cats: filmed in Iran under the pretence of being an educational film, the Iranian government didn’t find out about the project until it premiered in Cannes last May. The film sheds light on the underground music scene in the country where few groups are given permission to practice and perform. Our two protagonists are desperate to take their band to London for a gig and as they go about trying to get visas and passports to make their dream possible the audience are introduced to a range of local musicians all of whom go about making their music covertly. It’s a fascinating topic and the film works well to showcase the scene, however the hurried production (it was filmed over 17 days) is visible and the generic images, which accompany the songs, become repetitive over time. On top of this the dramatic ending comes across as at odds with the documentary tone and style of the film.