Kimia

Ahmad-Reza Darvish

Cast:  Khosro Shakibayi, Bita Farrahi.
 

Kimia, the fourth film by Ahmad-Reza Darvish took by surprise all those who expected to see an ordinary movie. Wile all his three previous films gave been ordinary thrillers with ordinary subjects, Kimia showed a remarkable subject and treatment by the young director who started his career after the revolution. 

His first film, The Last Flight, was about an Iranian pilot in the war against Iraq. That film had only the slightest touch of professionalism, an element lacking in his two other films, Lucifer and Lightning that were sheer thrillers. Bur Kimia was different. 

The film begins with Iraq's attack on Khoramshahr and Abadan. Amidst the action and chaos a woman is giving birth to a child. in the meantime, her husband is captured by enemy troops and she dies after delivery. The doctor, a woman, has to take care of the newborn, a girl. The doctor devotes herself to rearing the kid she names Kimia. After nine years, the man returns from captivity and begins to look for his daughter... 

Darvish has treated the melodramatic subject seriously. The film's opening sequence involving the war has a very professional making. Shot with a hand-held camera the opening sequence is one of the most brilliant of its kind in Iranian cinema. It is well coordinated and well executed and looks convincingly realistic thanks to good editing and special effects. This is probably the best war scene in all of Iranian cinema. 

However, in the post-war scenes the film goes off rhythm and becomes more of a soap opera though still interesting enough. Here, emotional conflicts replace the inherent excitement of combat scenes. 

Kimia was overwhelmingly welcomed by critics and jury members at the 13th Fajr festival. Except for the best make-up and best supporting actress categories, Kimia was a nominee for every single award of the festival; and finally won the ones for best acting as well as the jury's special prize and a diploma of honor for its screenplay.