Tehran Taxi – Canterbury Film Society

The Canterbury Film Society's 2020 programme now in full swing after a two-month 'COVID-19 holiday'. For the month of June only, screenings will be at the Isaac Theatre Royal (ITR) in Gloucester Street. Doors open at 7pm and screenings start at 7.30pm with a short introduction. There is easy parking in the central city at this time with free street parking after 6pm and a Wilson's carpark over the road from the theatre. There are also a number of bars and restaurants in Gloucester and New Regent Streets for those who want a pre-dinner meal or snack.

TEHRAN TAXI is the third in our Iranian film bracket this year. The great Iranian director Jafar Panahi (OFFSIDE, THE CIRCLE) has never let being barred from filmmaking stop him. For the third time since the 2010 ban was imposed, Panahi manages to apply his considerable art to production on a very small scale – and to get the resulting work out of Iran and into competition at a major international film festival.

In TEHRAN TAXI (shot entirely inside a car), the director poses as a cab driver and films interactions with a succession of lively customers, not least his own feisty niece who’s making a film too. It’s never entirely clear whether the passengers are aware of their participation, adding an ambiguity all the more teasing for being in their best interests. The surprisingly informative, entertaining and layered sampling of life in Tehran that emerges won the Golden Bear for Best Film at Berlin in 2015.

“A priceless cinematic lesson, proving once again that if you know what you want and how to express it, the whole mystical paraphernalia of filmmaking and its inflated budgets is not really necessary… More than ever before, Panahi’s composite picture of contemporary Iranian reality puts on a satirical shape, but the melancholy smile on the driver’s face – and in this case driver and director are one and the same person – is more eloquent than any piece of dialogue.” — Dan Fainaru, Screendaily.

Tonight is a members-only event but we have membership prices to suit everyone, including generous discounts for students and youth. New memberships must be paid online beforehand OR by phone banking app on the night (we'll have no Eftpos available throughout June).

Food and drink will be available from the ITR downstairs bar. Please note: NO outside food or drink may be brought into this venue. Contact tracing will continue to be done by theatre staff inside the entrance (MOH Covid-19 QR reader or written list).

For more information about our 2020 programme and to view the trailer, go to our website.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign up on our website for email or text reminders at www.canterburyfilmsociety.org.nz.

Let us take you further into film.

Kā mihi
Canterbury Film Society
021-405-039