SFFS Screen Presents: The Fish Fall in Love November 7, 2008

The Fish Fall in Love (Mahiha ashegh mishavand, Iran 2005), directed by Ali Raffi, a richly textured portrait of life on the southern coast of Iran will open at SFFS Screen at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas on Friday, November 7 and plays through November 13.

In his delectable debut, The Fish Fall in Love, Ali Raffi reveals a modern glimpse into the lives of Iranian women in this story of exile and return. After more than two decades in prison, a man named Aziz (Reza Kianian) returns to his home near the shores of the Caspian Sea. In the intervening years, unsure of the reasons behind his departure or where he’s been, his long-time love Atieh (Roya Nonahali) takes over his large house and opens a successful restaurant. With his arrival, she fears that he will kick her out, but hedges her bets by cooking a succession of delectable meals that she has her daughter Touka (Golshifteh Farahani) deliver to his room. Though taciturn and unforthcoming, over time Aziz discovers that Touka is undergoing a similar crisis to the one he put her mother through: a man she loves has abruptly left town. As these three characters tread gently over each other’s feelings, teasing out past and present longings and difficulties, a gallery of subsidiary characters in and outside of the kitchen adds its opinions to the fray. The result is a mouth-watering, touching film about food, family and friendship. Written by Ali Raffi. Photographed by Mahmoud Kalari. With Goshifteh Farahani, Maryam Saadat, Reza Kianian. In Farsi with English subtitles. 96 min. Distributed by Global Film Initiative.

At the Sundance Kabuki all seats are reserved and an amenities fee is in effect for most shows. Tickets will be available through the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas box office, at kiosks in the lobby and online at www.sundancecinemas.com with print-at-home capability. San Francisco Film Society members will receive discounted admission to SFFS Screen programs at the box office only (not online or at the lobby kiosks).

For full, complete and up-to-date information on all SFFS Screen programming, including ticket purchasing, visit www.sffs.org. Information and tickets are also available at www.sundancecinemas.com.

Official Website: http://www.sffs.org/events/films/film_fish_fall_in_love_2.html