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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine

EMAILPRINTNew Yorker Films

Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine reviews
63
10.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 1 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Bahman Farmanara

Directed by: Bahman Farmanara

Release Date:
Theatrical: April 6, 2001
DVD: September 21, 2004

Running Time: 93 minutes, Color

Origin: Iran

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Bahman Farmanara, Roya Nonahali, Reza Kianian, Valiyollah Shirandami, Parivash Nazarieh, Hossien Kasbian, and Mahtaj Nojoomi

In this semi-autobiographical story, director Bahman focuses on a 55-year-old filmmaker, Bahman Farjami, played by Farmanara himself. Farjami's work has been banned by the Iranian Post-Revolutionary Censor Board, however, he decides to film his own funeral, which further complicates his situation with the authoritites.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Boasts rich texture, sly vision and rueful humor.

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80

New Times (L.A.) Jean Oppenheimer

Farmanara, the actor, brings a real poignancy to the role and, thus, to the story that seems, more than anything, the tale of a man coming to terms with his life.

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78

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

A movie about life and death; its underpinnings are soaked in the perfume of artistic expression.

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75

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

This understated Iranian drama affirms life as vigorously as it provokes thought.

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75

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

The heavy subject is tempered with gentle humor.

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70

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

A fascinating and entertaining piece of work.

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70

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

As somber as much of this deceptively simple yet consistently acute, subtle and observant film is, an effect heightened by a carefully controlled use of color, it is not without hope.

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70

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Perhaps it's the difference in culture, but the thoughtfulness in Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine shows that its creator isn't letting himself or his audience off the hook.

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70

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

Mixes whiffs of Woody Allen and Federico Fellini with Mr. Farmanara's distinctive, mordant wit.

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63

Miami Herald Marta Barber

Farmanara bears his soul, and his honesty permeates this work as strongly as the smell of camphor.

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63

Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder

Farmanara, a gifted director, seems to be getting his artistic legs again, but he spends far too much time following his protagonist in and out of buildings as he smokes cigarettes and otherwise mopes about.

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60

Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson

The voyage is never less than interesting, even when you have no idea where it could possibly go.

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60

Variety Ken Eisner

Resonant with inner harmonies and dark, dark humor.

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60

Village Voice J. Hoberman

A humorously death-haunted psychodrama.

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58

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Depression is a fair subject for a movie, but this much moroseness shouldn't come to this little.

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50

San Francisco Chronicle Wesley Morris

A feat of droll, refractive, melodramatic self-portraiture.

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50

LA Weekly David Chute

At times the picture feels like an affectionate parody of recent Iranian films.

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50

TV Guide Steve Simels

Glacially slow going.

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38

New York Post V.A. Musetto

Deadly dull.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 1 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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