MonsterPerfect Good idea lost in the noise

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

KissEnglishPasto ............................................................from Pasto,Colombia...Via: L.A. CA., CALI, COLOMBIA...and ORLANDO, FL When watching a film produced by another culture, the "Lost in Translation" factor is usually an undeniable part of the equation. "FISH" is no exception. For openers, the title itself is askew. Farsi, the language spoken in Iran, does not employ articles ("The" or "a/an"). When translating, their use provides a serious challenge to Iranians. Here, the translator should have rendered: "FISH Fall in Love" as the title, sans "The"! Let's put shortcomings aside for a moment and focus on FISH's strengths, which are ample. The term "unpretentious" is overused as of late. If ever there was a film deserving of this distinction, "FISH" certainly is it. Reza has recently gotten out of prison, where he had been locked up for 20 plus years. Apparently, he was whisked away just days before he was to be married to Atieh.From the get go, it's obvious Reza is still pining for Atieh, big time! Meanwhile, Atieh has converted what was to be their home, into a very popular restaurant. "FISH" chronicles the incremental thawing and eventual initial re-kindling of that relationship, and does so in a way that is simultaneously poignant, warm-hearted, realistic and yet, oddly mundane.The film gives us a glimpse of some of the cultural nuances of Iran. The importance of food as a tool for bringing a family together at the table, the myriad of difficulties encountered by a woman widowed or abandoned by her husband and how wagging-tongued gossips can take the joy out of life. Without any spoiler details, I found the ending to be rather mystifying and thought-provoking.An attribute shared, surprisingly enough, by other Iranian films I've seen. "FISH" does suffer from some production value issues, which often plague low-budget productions. The dialog recorded outdoors and in the kitchen leave a lot to be desired. Well, you'll probably be reading the sub-titles anyway, right? Said sub-standard sub-titles prompted me to lower my rating from 8* to 7*.....ENJOY/DISFRUTELA!!!

druid333-2 Iran certainly has been a contender for some very interesting films (and I mean that in the good sense...of course). 'The Fish Fall In Love',from 2005 manages to cement that fine reputation. There has long been a relationship with cinema & food that entices audiences. The plot here:when Aziz returns from a twenty plus year prison sentence in a Tehran prison,he just wants to return to his home,located by the Caspian Sea,only to find that his ex fiancée has turned it into a popular restaurant. Atieh (his ex lover)sees Aziz & panics that he wants his house back,and attempts to sway him from taking back his house by letting him stay in one of the unused rooms (and supplying him with a non stop array of mouth watering meals). Does Aziz take back his house? I certainly won't spoil it for you. Besides all of that lovely food on display,the photography is lush with splashes of colour in the right places (oranges are a metaphor for life here). The film wins over with a well written & directed screenplay (by first time writer/director,Ali Rafiee),with a mostly unknown cast (although, the films's central female lead,Roya Nonahali has several films under her belt,already). The film's photography is a treat for the eye. This film is sparsely distributed by an independent studio that only lends their films out to art galleries & film societies,so a bit of searching out will be a pre requisite (plus,as far as I know,there's no DVD release out there). Spoken in Farsi with English subtitles. Not rated,this film serves up a few rude words,but is otherwise fine for older children,with a bit of patients (films from Iran can be a bit slowly paced).

rasecz Two intertwined love and separation stories. After a long absence, a man returns to his house now occupied by a previous flame. The parallel story is that of the woman's daughter who is about to suffer the same loss of her sweetheart that her mother suffered. The story focus is on the man. What he will do? Will the old love be rekindled? Will the daughter's fate be different? The man's intentions, actions and feelings are purposely obfuscated to keep us wondering. But the future path is easily guessed. The film is predictable. The depiction of charged emotions is often unconvincing, especially when coming from the main actress. The actress playing the daughter does a better job.The star attraction is the food. The action mostly takes place in a restaurant, which the man's house has become. Many plates of delectable dishes often fill the frame of the screen. You leave the theater hungry. The message is clear: the most effective way for a woman to get to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Debra Solomon / culiblog.org ...Fish Fall in Love is Iranian theater director Ali Raffi'i's first feature about two lovers being reunited after a twenty-year separation, and a new generation of about-to-be lovers, about to be separated.Ex-political prisoner and Iranian émigré Aziz returns to his home at a Caspian Sea coastal village, where he finds that his former beloved Atieh, her daughter and two sisters have appropriated his family home and turned it into a restaurant. The film is shot like an old postcard from your grandparents' seaside holiday, complete with long images of regional specialties. In this film, no dish leaves the kitchen without making a cameo. Can you imagine jeweled rice doing the red-carpet walk at Cannes?...http://www.culiblog.org/2006/02/when-fish-fall-in-love/ where there are more food-related film reviews