No werewolves, aliens, or time travelers - but a beautifully made simple story about a man recovering from a divorce - notes on Amir Motlagh's new film Young Ali: those were the days - a film review
By Sujewa Ekanayake
Movie: Young Ali: those were the days (official web page)
Director and lead actor: Amir Motlagh
Written by: Amir Motlagh and Charles Borg
7/10 on an arthouse movies scale.
See trailer at end of review.
*
I've watched Amir Motlagh movies since the early 2000s. Prior to his release of his first feature Whale towards the end of the first decade of the 2000s - around 2007 - 2009. I've always enjoyed his movies for the cinematography, editing, music, and being able to capture reality in a very honest way.
Young Ali: those were the days offers the typical positive aspects of Motlagh's movies. On the downside, it could use bit more of a story/plot and or diversions, humor to work for most people. But, for fans of realistic arthouse works - like Pedro Costa movies, the movie can work well. Also the movie has a rabbit named Mr. Totes in it - very much a plus for some viewers.
Some notes on the movie:
1 - Specifically what is it about? What is the movie about?
Let's get away from non-clear descriptions of this movie. Many writers and reviewers focus on the poetic aspects of the movie - of which there are many. Let's get to the specifics of the story and the character:
A man is going through a divorce, during the Covid crisis. That's where the movie starts and we stay with the main character for a period of time. We get to watch the character try to improve his life and try to get along better with his parents.2 - Beautifully made - great cinematography, gentle pacing/editing.
As mentioned a couple of times earlier - the cinematography, editing, music in the movie are great. Those elements get 9/10. The filmmaking aspects mentioned are perfect for the type of story Motlagh is attempting to tell with the movie.
3 - The divorce is happening most likely between an Iranian-American couple. A thing that we don't typically see in American movies.
Life in America is relatively easy for most people - compared to life in Iran or Sri Lanka. So, those of us who are aware of how things are worldwide, yet make art/film work in the US - focusing on either domestic dramas in the case of Ali movie, or sci-fi comedy dealing with detectives dealing with time travelers - in the case of my movie Cosmic Disco Detective Rene - seem to reflect the positive aspects of the American experience in our cinematography and editing. As opposed to in the works of Cassavetes or some of the early drama-comedies by the Duplass brothers. One camp of indie filmmakers ignore the beauty surrounding the characters in trouble. The other camp, like Motlagh or Terrence Malick, show the beauty of the world while, at the same time, talking about the difficult aspects of the world or our lives.
Life in America is relatively easy for most people - compared to life in Iran or Sri Lanka. So, those of us who are aware of how things are worldwide, yet make art/film work in the US - focusing on either domestic dramas in the case of Ali movie, or sci-fi comedy dealing with detectives dealing with time travelers - in the case of my movie Cosmic Disco Detective Rene - seem to reflect the positive aspects of the American experience in our cinematography and editing. As opposed to in the works of Cassavetes or some of the early drama-comedies by the Duplass brothers. One camp of indie filmmakers ignore the beauty surrounding the characters in trouble. The other camp, like Motlagh or Terrence Malick, show the beauty of the world while, at the same time, talking about the difficult aspects of the world or our lives.
Divorce, and recovery from divorce (recovery from a large scale failure essentially) - anywhere on the planet - is a difficult subject. Motlagh tackles the subject in both an honest and also a poetic and visually beautiful way, with great and appropriate music.
4 - There is footage - real world/doc footage of surfing - featuring Motlagh - and that's interesting. The character in the movie is not a filmmaker as far as we know, but it is interesting to see the character reviewing old footage shot on analog digital video - a filmmaker type activity. Also a character ignoring the more recent past and looking at footage from 10-20 years ago perhaps - from better times. An important detail about how the character deals with present day problems.
5 - For a moment we get to see some kind of a video game - is the character playing it? Probably. It looks like something custom-created for the movie - very interesting and creative.
6 - In a way the movie is a challenge - kind of a tough athletic activity kind of challenge. We are watching and hanging out with a person who is going through a difficult period in life, without the escapist elements of a secondary story - werewolves, time travelers or other fantasy elements. As always with Motlagh movies it is a refreshing challenge and a break from film as mostly entertainment - to film as art/sharing the experiences of a character - with some entertaining elements supplied through the cinematography and the editing, music.
7 - The character working out with a bunny nearby :) - that's funny.
8 - Character listens to self help and or motivational tapes or videos. I've always found that to be an interesting thing to place in movies. Definitely something from real life, and definitely something the character in the movie would do.
Humans require some type of a grand mythology to make it through life. Could be one of the old timey religions, or could be modern self-help guru talks and stories.
9 - The acting is very good. It's primarily Motlagh. Cinematography is done in a way that self-filming is well concealed. Most people will not be able to tell that most of the video was probably shot by Motlagh himself (having made such movies since 2020 I am reminded of the methods used to make such movies - overall, a very good thing for both regular audiences and filmmakers to witness).
10 - Interesting scenes/info/notes about being a first generation Persian/Iranian-American person.
11 - Around 42 mins into the movie I laughed out loud at a moment that I consider - obviously - to be very humorous.
12 - The movie does not have a strong narrative or a story - the type that are present in most movies, in most entertainment movies - some grand mission that has to be accomplished - that type of thing. We are hanging out with the character as he goes about his life. This may be difficult or unusual for some viewers - but not for people who watch a lot of arthouse cinema or not for people who have seen previous Motlagh movies.
13 - The main character is angry - perhaps at the failed marriage - and perhaps like most of us were angry when Covid shut down our lives and plans in 2020. However, we adapted, and there were new, positive revelations for many people - during and after that period.
14 - Good slow cinema - like Young Ali - gets you thinking about related things while you watch the movie.
This is a slow cinema movie - similar to those of Lav Diaz, Pedro Costa.
Best watched in a movie theater if possible.
Or at one sitting at home, without too many breaks.
15 - Ali's path of recovery - another possible title for the movie
Or - Ali's path of recovery, featuring Mr. Totes the bunny.
16 - The sound design on the movie is very good. Brief sound effects from the real world that connect the viewer to the movie in subtle but important ways.
17 - A movie for men who are trying to recover from something or are trying to improve their lives.
18 - Persian is spoken - a bit - in this movie.
19 - The movie would have been better with some more comedic moments, perhaps even with a comedic plot that weaves in and out of the main story.
20 - The main character sleeps in the garden sometimes - under the sky.
*
4 - There is footage - real world/doc footage of surfing - featuring Motlagh - and that's interesting. The character in the movie is not a filmmaker as far as we know, but it is interesting to see the character reviewing old footage shot on analog digital video - a filmmaker type activity. Also a character ignoring the more recent past and looking at footage from 10-20 years ago perhaps - from better times. An important detail about how the character deals with present day problems.
5 - For a moment we get to see some kind of a video game - is the character playing it? Probably. It looks like something custom-created for the movie - very interesting and creative.
6 - In a way the movie is a challenge - kind of a tough athletic activity kind of challenge. We are watching and hanging out with a person who is going through a difficult period in life, without the escapist elements of a secondary story - werewolves, time travelers or other fantasy elements. As always with Motlagh movies it is a refreshing challenge and a break from film as mostly entertainment - to film as art/sharing the experiences of a character - with some entertaining elements supplied through the cinematography and the editing, music.
7 - The character working out with a bunny nearby :) - that's funny.
8 - Character listens to self help and or motivational tapes or videos. I've always found that to be an interesting thing to place in movies. Definitely something from real life, and definitely something the character in the movie would do.
Humans require some type of a grand mythology to make it through life. Could be one of the old timey religions, or could be modern self-help guru talks and stories.
9 - The acting is very good. It's primarily Motlagh. Cinematography is done in a way that self-filming is well concealed. Most people will not be able to tell that most of the video was probably shot by Motlagh himself (having made such movies since 2020 I am reminded of the methods used to make such movies - overall, a very good thing for both regular audiences and filmmakers to witness).
10 - Interesting scenes/info/notes about being a first generation Persian/Iranian-American person.
11 - Around 42 mins into the movie I laughed out loud at a moment that I consider - obviously - to be very humorous.
12 - The movie does not have a strong narrative or a story - the type that are present in most movies, in most entertainment movies - some grand mission that has to be accomplished - that type of thing. We are hanging out with the character as he goes about his life. This may be difficult or unusual for some viewers - but not for people who watch a lot of arthouse cinema or not for people who have seen previous Motlagh movies.
13 - The main character is angry - perhaps at the failed marriage - and perhaps like most of us were angry when Covid shut down our lives and plans in 2020. However, we adapted, and there were new, positive revelations for many people - during and after that period.
14 - Good slow cinema - like Young Ali - gets you thinking about related things while you watch the movie.
This is a slow cinema movie - similar to those of Lav Diaz, Pedro Costa.
Best watched in a movie theater if possible.
Or at one sitting at home, without too many breaks.
15 - Ali's path of recovery - another possible title for the movie
Or - Ali's path of recovery, featuring Mr. Totes the bunny.
16 - The sound design on the movie is very good. Brief sound effects from the real world that connect the viewer to the movie in subtle but important ways.
17 - A movie for men who are trying to recover from something or are trying to improve their lives.
18 - Persian is spoken - a bit - in this movie.
19 - The movie would have been better with some more comedic moments, perhaps even with a comedic plot that weaves in and out of the main story.
20 - The main character sleeps in the garden sometimes - under the sky.
*
7/10 on an arthouse movies scale
Trailer:
