Zalava

Zalava is a hidden gem that masterfully blends genre storytelling with the political undertones typically associated with a particular type of cinema in the minds of cinephiles.

The 2021 Iranian film "Zalava," directed by Arsalan Amiri, is set in a Kurdish-Iranian fictional village. The story unfolds shortly before a significant historical event—the Khomeinist revolution—recognized universally even by those unfamiliar with the country's history.

The cultural roots of a country are formed mainly in the hinterlands and suburbs. These are regions untouched by cultural evolution, where traditional beliefs and superstitions persist. Amiri uses the demon Jinn to illustrate this fertile ground, suggesting that it is in these areas that the Shiite Islamic republic took root, eventually supplanting the monarchy.

Integralism and phantoms can haunt bodies, kill herds, and drain aquifers, and they can be fought in two ways: through an exorcist or by shooting the possessed person in the legs, causing a stream of 'salvific' blood to flow from the wound. 

The kneecap serves as a powerful metaphor for punishment—harsh but non-lethal—across various cultures, including some interpretations within Islam and instances of European political terrorism. These cultures converge in viewing this practice as a means of educating those who stray from an accepted orthodoxy. This aspect alone warrants extensive reflection.

"Zalava" provides a compelling examination of the social and political dynamics in a rural community during the 1970s, just before the Iranian Revolution transformed Iran from one of the most progressive nations in the Arab world to one of the most repressive in the region.

The story follows the inhabitants of the village of Zalava, haunted by a mysterious and terrifying evil entity. The film delves into themes of superstition, authority, and social control, showcasing the clash between tradition and modernity.

The village is deeply rooted in ancient beliefs and superstitions that significantly shape the daily lives of its residents. The doctor and the gendarme symbolize the entry of modern rationality and science, standing as a "statement" of these traditional views. This clash between the rational and the irrational serves as a metaphor for the conflict between progress and tradition.

Politically, the story explores themes of authority and power. It highlights how fear is wielded by political leaders as a potent tool to manipulate and control the population, even twisting the most sincere and progressive ideals to sustain their dominance.

Fear of the malign entity becomes a tool for control and power, fostering a climate of tension and hysteria, and it demonstrates how fear can be manipulative and dominative.

This movie depicts a historical era where ideals of omnipotence destroyed a nation, erasing its culture and the hard-earned values of its progressive society, but that scared the whole world as a menace of freedom.

Insightful, intelligent, and thought-provoking, this deliberate film is a must-watch for lovers of finely crafted cinema, eschewing unnecessary predictability and featuring a well-developed and contemplative storyline.