| Through the Olive Trees | |
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| زیر درختان زیتون | |
| Directed by | Abbas Kiarostami |
| Written by | Abbas Kiarostami |
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| Edited by | Abbas Kiarostami |
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| Distributed by | Miramax |
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Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | Iran |
| Language | Persian |
| Box office | $40,300 |
Through the Olive Trees (Persian:زیر درختان زیتون,romanized: Zīr-e Derakhtān-e Zeytūn,lit. 'under the olive trees') is a 1994 Iraniandrama film written, produced, edited and directed byIranian filmmakerAbbas Kiarostami. The final part of Kiarostami'sKoker trilogy, the plot, set in earthquake-ravagedNorthern Iran, revolves around the production of the second film,And Life Goes On, which itself was a revisitation of the first film,Where Is the Friend's House?.
Like much of Kiarostami's work,Through the Olive Trees is filmed in a naturalistic way; a complex study of the link between art and life, its narrative often blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality. The film was selected as the Iranian entry for theBest Foreign Language Film at the67th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[1] Many have since declared the film a masterpiece.[according to whom?]
Hossein (Hossein Rezai) is a local stonemason-turned-actor. Outside the set of a film in which he is acting, he makes a marriage proposal to his leading lady, a student named Tahereh, who was orphaned by theManjil-Rudbar earthquake. Because he is poor and illiterate, the girl's family finds his offer insulting; the girl avoids him as a result. She continues evading him even when they are filming, and she seems to have trouble grasping the difference between her role in the film and her real-life self. The fictional couple takes part in what would be the filming ofAnd Life Goes On.
The situation complicates further as Hossein still pursues the affections of the young actress while the film goes on. The director learns about this and subtly tries to advise Hossein about what to do. He then illustrates their story and where the conflict began. The girl manages to finish the scene while Hossein attempts to woo her and then departs by walking as Hossein runs after her.
In the final scene, at a great distance, the girl finally gives an answer to Hossein, who is seen running through a green field and back into the olive grove. The audience is left to wonder what the girl's response was.
The film was well-received amongst international cinema critics, especially inFrance, and was nominated for thePalme d'Or at the1994 Cannes Film Festival.[2] It won the Espiga de Oro at the 1994Seminci inValladolid. In particular, its ambiguous final scene has been widely discussed and celebrated.
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 88% of 16 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10.[3]
In the 2012Sight & Sound poll, six critics and four directors rankedThrough the Olive Trees one of the 10 greatest films ever made.[4]
Miramax Films had also acquired theUnited States distribution rights toThrough the Olive Trees and the film was given a limited US theatrical release in 1995. However,Miramax Films never released the film on home video, with the film's only American home video release being a Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection as part of the "Koker Trilogy" boxset.[5]
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