User Reviews

i never understand the ratings system. both smoqing and breathful are shown as 7 or more on the rating records (votes given)and we see 4 stars on the main page on the ratings?!please, either correct them or let me know how it works? thank you. i have seen both of these unique and daring films and do agree that each film by shokof is a new experiment to watch. breathful (regardless of acting as this one is not about acting at all), is a delight to watch from Directing to situations and the originality of perspectives ,concept and lines.i had a blast and loads of fun, while smoqing gave me all the different side and mood of shokof. a man of multi talent and wide perspectives for sure. his films are so original that one can only admire the courage it takes to think of them let alone to make them. i remember a statement by shokof at the premiere of the Breathful that goes like this; It is absolutely a nightmare to be able to make movies of different perspectives and it is more horrifying to have all the world against you making them. this was his remark to the question how he makes such films with extraordinary different perspectives to that of the main stream films and industry rules. one feels all that lust he claims is necessary to make films that are everything but business as usual. great mind, brave artist and much too fresh products to enjoy regardless of what he makes.

This is may be the best movie(as a film static) by Shokof. this one tops all his heavy handed conceptually driven pseudo intellectual,Shokfesque Gem movies previously. this hilarious film is about two girls who are the most delightful pair (really an act by both Taies Farzan as the lead,,and Narges Rashidi)on the screen. one can probably not relate to the oddity of the film until perhaps past the first 20 minutes of the movie, where all different layers of the intertwined stories have settled and the ride to a sensational adventure to a most joyful adventure begins. The two stunningly beautiful girls (Taies Farzan resembles a wild Jamaican Sophia Loren with an afro, as Narges Rashidi is the more of the modern type)take a heavy load of drug from a mean drug lord (Sigi, played very well by Monika Schubert) to sell on a credit. as time passes they realize that they are not made for it , and so decide to bring the load back and ask Sigi to forget the whole deal, BUT, not so fast Jose. things start to go wrong every which way from that moment on in this extraordinary attempt in making a Real All Women Film (on locations) and in real street situations (on times even the pedestrians have been staged to be women)in Berlin, Germany. Then there is the Taxi_driver (called Benny Hur, played brilliantly by Souzan Alavi). Then, there is the killer girl played by a cult figure herself (Barbara Kowa). and then, there are one sensational situation after another . Shokof mentioned in a screening of the film that the film was based upon an idea he had developed in early nineties with his artist friend George Dokoupil where they made a trash film called: Ben Hur, The Breathless ,Taxi Driver in Casablanca. the film was to be a tribute to great movies made by great Directors of cinema, but then he developed the idea of re-making it and call it only Breathful (with respect to Goddard,s Breathless) and dedicate the whole film to the cause of Freedom for women in his home land Iran. To make things worse, Fuss falls in love with Sigi,s daughter Naomi who is played by a great looking Tina Mcervale in her first feature. She is a touch all by herself in the role and shades a great light onto this assembly of wonderful actresses from and or living in Germany. A most sensational section of the picture is when they follow the advice from Fuss,s old friend (Buddy Rich) played well by Marina Welsch to become artists. the gallery scene is out of this world. finally the two girls plus Naomi(boss,s daughter) reach the end of the rope in a shoot out scene facing Sigi the Boss and Co., and Vasline Basmati (acted greatly by Britta Horn).

the usage of amazing names alone is a cause to see this film. Their saving life angel (Benny Hur) appears after the shoot out to take their half dead bodies out of the scene, and in another wild taxi ride of their life. a true Cult is to emerge from the master of Cult Mr.Shokof. hats off. a 10 for being out of this world. o, i almost forgot to mention Mr.Shokof,s nose as special appearance to be the only male element throughout the movie where two Iranian women (Taies Farzan and Nargess Rashidi are both Iranian-Germans living in Germany)make all the fools of the nose in this coolest scene in any film ever.

i saw the premiere of Breathful in Berlin. the crowd did not respond to the film, and the press was less enthusiastic, but as all other films from Shokof, i longed for originality and spectacular concept and cinema language with his signature before the film started. Breathful was wrongly shown at a wrong time (in my opinion) and certainly to a wrong crowd. this film has its ups and downs but only if one views it through the eyes of people watching standard films from the world industry. one should know that Shokof has never made a film for the industry and or by the industry, and is probably why he enjoys a following for being who he is and having made films his way over and over again. there is again nothing usual in this hilarious Gangster_Comedy with an all women cast. Two girls who are best of friends try to get rich in a swift drug sales action. Berta (played by Taies Farzan), and Fuss(Narges Rashidi)make a most joyous and unbelievable team in leading this comedy with extraordinary fresh elements and twists. Berta is the frustrated furious strong minded Latino type as Fuss is just there to make life easier for both of them. she is supposed to be the cooler of the two. However, and on the contrary Fuss only makes things complicated and constantly gets on Berta,s nerves throughout the story most comically. One begins to love their relationship even though they never connect as two good friends. there is something about these two that makes you want them to succeed, and love to watch them as they are obviously gorgeous women on screen(in my opinion they connect as a rarity women couples on the screen). Despite all their efforts,they can not sell the drugs which they took on a credit from Sigi (the Boss). They ask Sigi to take the drug back and forget the whole bargain. Sigi gives them 3 days time and this starts a ride of a life time in trouble for both girls. they go from stealing cars to robbing stores, and through many clients unsuccessfully to sell the drugs all throughout the film. their situation gets more complicated as Fuss dates Naomi who is Sigi,s daughter, and more so when they try to become artists (that whole art issue is out of this world). The movie has rare elements and characters have funniest names in cinema history ever; Vasline Basmati, Benny Hur, Buddy Rich,and Fuss doing best to match the meaning of her name for being a trouble all the time. Berta speaks with an unclear accent between Latino and Iranian(Taies Farzan is an Iranian German), and is a force all by herself whenever she shows up. the actings are never to be taken more than what they are as the film again breaks many rules in the books as do most films by Shokof. It is again a Shokof film that stands atall and not necessarily because every element in the film is perfect. it is on the contrary so loose,free, and daring, that it feels perfect. mastery of the film is that the Directing is incredible, and some amazing moments make this one stick as good as it can. i would love to see the sequel anytime, and with much the same cast soon. a 10 for all the great ideas, and for dedicating the film to freedom of women everywhere, and a salute to Shokof for keeping it original. the music is again a charm.

Unbelievable but true. IMDB now is on my list of IRAN REGIME SERVANTS AND SERVICES for having unlawfully and illegally reduced and changed ratings of Shokof films openly. Oddly enough with such stupidity that a film which had a viewing of lets say 300 and rated a film above 7 suddenly and overnight showed the same number of visitors rated the same film 2.3?! Stupid but also perhaps obviously and purposefully so that I write such a note!? How and why does IMDB does such a disservice? ! Who benefits from such an open insult!? Political or private it just creates a state of affairs not far away from a barbaric regime with servants dumb enough to take acts of violence against some highly educated and cultivated society of people who honestly take their times to give their voices to such a page for promoting arts and cinema in a free state of mind. Shokof films will endure such regimes. Shame on you IMDB for becoming islam fanatic servant of iran regime. Shokof remains high on my list.