Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
A middle-aged Tehranian man, Mr. Badii is intent on killing himself and seeks someone to bury him after his demise. Driving around the city, the seemingly well-to-do Badii meets with numerous people, including a Muslim student, asking them to take on the job, but initially he has little luck. Eventually, Badii finds a man who is up for the task because he needs the money, but his new associate soon tries to talk him out of committing suicide.
Taste of Cherry is a landmark of Iranian and world cinema. Kiarostami's minimalist approach — a man driving through Tehran seeking someone to bury him — generates profound philosophical weight from an almost absurdly simple premise. The cinematography is exceptional: the dusty, sun-baked construction landscapes and cramped car interiors create a visual poetry that is unmistakably Kiarostami's own. Novelty is very high — the film's conception, pacing, and radical meta-ending (switching to video footage of the crew) mark it as genuinely singular. The ending is deliberately disorienting and philosophically daring, earned a 4 for its audacity and resonance. Plot is deliberately spare and contemplative rather than conventionally structured, placing it at a solid above-average rather than exceptional; and while the performances are naturalistic and effective, they serve the film's observational mode rather than showcasing virtuoso acting.