Gabbeh . Tucson Weekly . 01-12-98

Gabbeh

DIRECTED BY: Mohsen Makhmalbaf

REVIEWED: 01-12-98

This is what happens to cultures that don't have enough TV. They start watching rugs for entertainment. Fortunately, the rug that's watched by the elderly couple in Gabbeh is better than most American sit-coms. It stars a beautiful young nomad girl who weaves a playful tale of love, courtship, family, and (implicitly) the importance of ritual and folklore. Written and directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Gabbeh gives experimental narrative a good name, using bright primary colors and creative editing to generate unique, magical-realist effects. Though it had a few too many scenes filled with extended sheep baaaaahs for my tastes, I'd still recommend Gabbeh to anyone curious about Iranian rural culture.

--Woodruff

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