“Shab, Dakheli, Divar” (Beyond the Wall) Photocall – 79th Venice International Film Festival

Vahid Jalilvand issues a genuine howl of political fury in his Venice competition drama Beyond The Wall. Expressions of protest from Iranian cinema are always something to be heeded, especially at this most dangerous time for artists – as witness the current imprisonment of Mohammad Rasoulof and Jafar Panahi, the latter also competing in Venice, in absentia. Beyond The Wall has no lack of either nerve or intensity – you only wish for the control and focus that might have made this claustrophobic quasi-thriller truly effective. Jalilvand won the Orizzonti Award for Best Director in Venice with his second film No Date, No Signature (2017); this this austere yet frenetic follow-up is likely to flourish on the festival circuit (after Venice, it heads to TIFF) althugh it may be more admired than enjoyed.

September 8, 2022 | 6:38 pm