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Booye kafoor, atre yas
Metascore
63 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
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  1. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    88
    Boasts rich texture, sly vision and rueful humor.
  2. New Times (L.A.)
    Reviewed by: Jean Oppenheimer
    80
    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.
  3. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    78
    A movie about life and death; its underpinnings are soaked in the perfume of artistic expression.
  4. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    75
    This understated Iranian drama affirms life as vigorously as it provokes thought.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    75
    The heavy subject is tempered with gentle humor.
  6. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    70
    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.
  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    70
    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.
  8. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    70
    Mixes whiffs of Woody Allen and Federico Fellini with Mr. Farmanara's distinctive, mordant wit.
  9. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    70
    A fascinating and entertaining piece of work.
  10. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Robert K. Elder
    63
    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.
  11. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Marta Barber
    63
    Farmanara bears his soul, and his honesty permeates this work as strongly as the smell of camphor.
  12. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    60
    The voyage is never less than interesting, even when you have no idea where it could possibly go.
  13. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    60
    A humorously death-haunted psychodrama.
  14. Variety
    Reviewed by: Ken Eisner
    60
    Resonant with inner harmonies and dark, dark humor.
  15. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    58
    Depression is a fair subject for a movie, but this much moroseness shouldn't come to this little.
  16. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    50
    A feat of droll, refractive, melodramatic self-portraiture.
  17. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Steve Simels
    50
    Glacially slow going.
  18. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: David Chute
    50
    At times the picture feels like an affectionate parody of recent Iranian films.
  19. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    38
    Deadly dull.
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