“Cinema starts with D.W. Griffith and ends with Abbas Kiarostami.” New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard said. Abbas Kiarostami, who has just passed away age 76, was one of the luminaries of world cinema. His unique sensitivity, made of a contemplation of social interaction, work with children and a universe that was deeply embedded in Persian culture, set him apart from the rest. Also, and equally importantly, he single-handedly put Iranian cinema on the map.
Described by Martin Scorsese as “a very special human being: quiet, elegant, modest, articulate, and quite observant”, his films explored life in such a way that there always was something to be enjoyed, “every scene is overflowing with beauty and surprise, patiently and exquisitely captured.”
Here are a few films to remember him by.