The Poot
MIA Exhibition Series – presented by DFI
Elham Asadi / Short Documentary / Iran / 2009 / Colour
In No Dialogue
Interests: Documentary
N/A
Rated: Parental guidance is advised for viewers under the age of 13. Individuals under the age of 13 are not admitted into cinemas unless accompanied by an individual aged 18 or older.
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Synopsis
Carpet-weaving is one of the oldest trades in the Persian world but, as with so many traditions, the craft is under fire these days. Many of the carpets that end up on the European market are manufactured mechanically in China or India, and the handicraft itself is becoming less attractive because people can earn more money in other occupations. The Iranian documentary ‘The Poot’ reveals how, in some places, carpets are still woven by hand; it follows the production process from start to finish, without explanation or comment, in a film that has the same visual magic as the Persian carpets it depicts. From grinding plants into powders of a dozen different colours and washing out bales of wool in the river, to the delicate, dexterous weaving and the smoothing of the final product with a sharp knife, ‘The Poot’ demonstrates this ancient art in deep, saturated colours with a razor-sharp eye for detail. In this way, the documentary provides a loving, romantic homage to an age-old tradition, one that is slowly but surely fading from glory.
About the Director
Iranian director, screenwriter, photographer and editor Elham Asadi was born in Tehran in 1980, and has been an active filmmaker since 2006. Her first artistic experience was an award-winning short film made through the Kiarostami Workshop. ‘The Poot’, her first medium-length documentary was completed in 2009 and took first prize in the IDFA Competition for Mid-Length Documentary, among other awards. Her new film, ‘Sign’, continues her research into Persian culture and rituals and is slated for release in the Spring of 2017.
Credits
- Director
- Elham Asadi
- Screenwriter
- Elham Asadi
- Producer
- Shariyar Jahangiri
- Editor
- Kamyar Minoukadeh
- Cinematographer
- Elham Asadi, Iman Tahsin