This Is Not a Film
Seen it?2011 | 78 min | Documentary
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- If you count yourself among people who love a true story told well, this one's for you. You'll come away knowing something you didn't. Critics like it more than audiences, which usually means it takes its time or takes risks.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Well paced for a documentary, at 1 hr 18 min. An easy one to fit in on a school night.
- What might put you off
- It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
- Skip it if you want made-up drama tonight.
Renowned Iranian director Jafar Panahi received a 6-year prison sentence and a 20-year ban from filmmaking and conducting interviews with foreign press due to his open support for the opposition party in Iran's 2009 election. In this film, which was shot secretly by Panahi's close friend Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and smuggled into France on a USB stick concealed inside a cake for a last-minute submission to Cannes, Panahi documents his daily life under house arrest as he awaits a decision on his appeal.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
Our audience score: 59%
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$70K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 35K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, Jafar Panahi
- Jafar PanahiSelf
- IgiPet lizard
- Mrs. GheiratSelf (voice)
- Mojtaba MirtahmasbSelf
- RakhsanSelf (voice)
- SimaSelf (voice)
- MickySelf
- HasanSelf