A Moment of Innocence Un instant d'innocence

by Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

1996

78 min

Persian with French subtitles

Feature film

Fiction

Color

DCP

Special Mention Locarno International Competition 1996

Rétrospectives and Cartes Blanches 2022

Official synopsis

Under the Shah's regime, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, a 17-year-old pro-democracy teen injured a policeman during a demonstration and was sentenced to five years in prison. Twenty years later, the former officer and Makhmalbaf, who has since then become a famous director, decide to shoot a film about these events. Each of them chooses an actor to interpret his “past self” at the time and intense discussions emerge from these encounters.

The programmer’s eye

Alongside fellow directors Kiarostami and Panahi, Mohsen Makhmalbaf masters mise en abyme in films, the Iranian wat. By confronting his point of view with that of a policeman turned actor during the preparation of a film shooting, he probes the truths of fiction. At what point does this "moment of innocence" arise: during the casting process when the policeman and the director select their young incarnations and when the one who wants to save the world is chosen? Or when the young boy re-enacting the attack breaks down in tears at the thought of having to stab someone? This film is full of moments of grace, not to mention a sumptuous final gesture.

Victor Courgeon

Biography and Filmography

Mohsen Makhmalbaf is an Iranian director, writer and producer. He is known as one of the most influential filmmakers and founders of the new wave of Iranian cinema. He is the recipient of more than 50 international awards from some of the most prestigious film festivals across the world. His film “Kandahar” (2001) was chosen as one of the top 100 best movies of history of cinema by Times Magazine. “A Moment of Innocence” (1996) has been selected as one of the top ten best films of the ’90s amongst the director of world international film festivals. As a writer-director, Makhmalbaf has also published more than 30 books.

2019 - MARGHE AND HER MOTHER - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

2014 - THE PRESIDENT - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

2012 - THE GARDENER - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

2006 - SCREAMS OF THE ANTS - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

2005 - SEX & PHILOSOPHY - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

2001 - KANDAHAR - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1997 - SILENCE - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1996 - A MOMENT OF INNOCENCE - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1995 - GABBEH - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1994 - SALAM CINEMA - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1991 - ONCE UPON A TIME CINEMA - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1990 - THE NIGHTS OF ZAYANDEH-ROUD - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1990 - TIME OF LOVE - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1988 - MARRIAGE OF THE BLESSED - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1987 - THE CYCLIST - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

1986 - THE PEDDLER - Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Director and Screenwriter

Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Mirhadi Tayyebi, Ali Bakhshi…

Makhmalbaf Film House