Empty Hands is a complicated film about the aftermath of the Iraq- Iran war. Some of the intricacies of the plot will be lost on a western audience.
The film focuses on a mother and daughter, living with some tension. When the mother begins to act mysteriously, the daughter follows her. It emerges that the father-husband is being released from being a prisoner of war but has mental troubles. Eventually they care for the father and take him to a country town for recuperation.
In the meantime they have been receiving mysterious phone calls, threatening calls. It emerges then that there has been a clash between two military men and one holds the father responsible for the illness of his son and is determined to have revenge, an attempt made on the daughter’s life by the complainant’s daughter.
The film is highly emotional – reminding audiences of the impact of the war and its aftermath.
1.The impact of the drama? The Iran- Iraq war? Its aftermath? Violence during the war, subsequent violence?
2.Contemporary Iran, 21st century comfort, modern, affluent? Holiday homes? Food and dining? The memories of war – and the visual flashbacks?
3.An emotional film, style, performance? Social issues? The musical score?
4.The relationship between mother and daughter, the mother preparing the food, the widow? The mother going out, the daughter suspicious? The phone calls and the innuendo? The effect on the daughter, her being overwrought? Following her mother? The confrontation?
5.The memories of the father, the truth, his being a prisoner of war, illness, mentally disturbed? His return? Relationship with his wife? The joy at home, especially for the daughter? The meals? His spasms and his reversion? The holiday, the joy? The father’s character, upright? A commander?
6.The father and his trying to cope, the difficulties? Meeting his old friends and the memories of the war?
7.The holiday, the life for the family, visits?
8.The phone calls, the mysterious woman, the daughter meeting her, the confrontation? Her being stabbed? Who? Why? The daughter and her being arrested?
9.The father going to visit the grieving man with his son? The past bitterness? The phone calls, revenge? The helplessness of the son?
10.The father and his wife going to visit, the meeting and its impact, knowing the truth? The freeze-frame as the two leave? No effect? The meaning of the title?
The film focuses on a mother and daughter, living with some tension. When the mother begins to act mysteriously, the daughter follows her. It emerges that the father-husband is being released from being a prisoner of war but has mental troubles. Eventually they care for the father and take him to a country town for recuperation.
In the meantime they have been receiving mysterious phone calls, threatening calls. It emerges then that there has been a clash between two military men and one holds the father responsible for the illness of his son and is determined to have revenge, an attempt made on the daughter’s life by the complainant’s daughter.
The film is highly emotional – reminding audiences of the impact of the war and its aftermath.
1.The impact of the drama? The Iran- Iraq war? Its aftermath? Violence during the war, subsequent violence?
2.Contemporary Iran, 21st century comfort, modern, affluent? Holiday homes? Food and dining? The memories of war – and the visual flashbacks?
3.An emotional film, style, performance? Social issues? The musical score?
4.The relationship between mother and daughter, the mother preparing the food, the widow? The mother going out, the daughter suspicious? The phone calls and the innuendo? The effect on the daughter, her being overwrought? Following her mother? The confrontation?
5.The memories of the father, the truth, his being a prisoner of war, illness, mentally disturbed? His return? Relationship with his wife? The joy at home, especially for the daughter? The meals? His spasms and his reversion? The holiday, the joy? The father’s character, upright? A commander?
6.The father and his trying to cope, the difficulties? Meeting his old friends and the memories of the war?
7.The holiday, the life for the family, visits?
8.The phone calls, the mysterious woman, the daughter meeting her, the confrontation? Her being stabbed? Who? Why? The daughter and her being arrested?
9.The father going to visit the grieving man with his son? The past bitterness? The phone calls, revenge? The helplessness of the son?
10.The father and his wife going to visit, the meeting and its impact, knowing the truth? The freeze-frame as the two leave? No effect? The meaning of the title?
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
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