The White Meadows

Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof delivers a stinging critique of the oppressive, authoritarian culture of contemporary Iran in this bitter satire set on a metaphorical string of islands in a misty salt marsh. The "white meadows" refer to the bleached white beaches, coated by salt that has left them barren and dead, much like the local society: medieval cultures existing in isolated pockets. It's like an Iranian Gulliver's Travels exploring political and religious culture as seen through the eyes of a "tear collector," a boatman from the mainland who comes to hear their woes and take away their sorrows by collecting their tears in a glass vial. Brutal rituals (such as human sacrifice, politely referred to as a "marriage" and treated as a holy honor by all but the virgin bride) and punishments abound amidst a culture of conformity and intolerance that is maintained by blind unquestioned obedience to patriarchy. Rebels, whether they are runaways, heroes, or artists with individual visions, don't survive the smothering culture. Unfortunately, that isn't just metaphor: Rasoulof is currently serving time for his artistic "crimes" (along with other Iranian filmmakers), making this both a timely commentary on Iran and a timeless portrait of a barbaric culture that justifies its brutality with religion and tradition. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)