The Willow Tree

In Iranian writer-director Majid Majidi's The Willow Tree, Youssef (Parviz Parastui) is a blind middle-aged literature professor living happily in Tehran with his supportive wife and tomboyish little daughter. Although he regrets the loss of sight he suffered in a childhood accident, Youssef accepts his situation until a trip to a Paris clinic to remove a tumor in his eye results in a cornea transplant that restores his vision. The blessing proves, however, to be mixed. Now that he's less dependent on his wife, Youssef appears less loving and is also drawn to younger, more attractive women. In addition, his failure to stop a pickpocket he witnesses stealing a man's wallet makes him feel complicit in the world's wickedness, while in his professional life he suddenly feels awkward and fearful in the presence of blind students. In short, Youssef's returned sight threatens to destroy his life rather than enrich it. Boasting a strong premise, The Willow Tree features many powerful and visually striking moments, but perhaps because Majidi is working with adults rather than children (as he did in The Color of Paradise), his touch here seems somewhat less assured, particularly during numerous religious-based interludes. Still, the film's beauty coupled with its willingness to address existential questions makes it well worth watching. Recommended. (F. Swietek)