I hope you all enjoyed the film we screened today. I heard you guys laugh a lot, and I even saw some tears at the end.
This is your last posting opportunity. Let us know what you thought about the film and its themes. How does it connect to some of the themes we have spoken about in class? For some of you that had little contact with Iranian culture before, what are you taking away from this film? Please no plot summary guys.
Good luck on your papers and we will see you for the final time next week. Also we will probably post the grades up on the blog, so keep checking it out.
-Amir
33 comments:
I want to start off by saying this movie truly had it all. Rarely would I stay after any class had ended for anything but there was no way I was going to miss the ending of this movie. Anyways, I really liked seeing the power and respect that came from simply putting on the clothing of a holy man. It seemed that in that setting, anything that Marmulak said was seen as advice, correct, and without doubt. This made the villagers seem like sheep at times, as what Marmulak often said was unconventional (views of youth) and strange. Nevertheless, the theme of repentance was fantastic and the symbol of the dove at the end completely blew me away. I will never forget the phrase that "everyone has a path to G-d". Overall, I loved the movie and was really interested in the respect for holy men and the youth movement with respect to religion.
I thought this was a fairly good movie. I enjoyed watching the transformation of Marmulak from a person who didn't really believe that "everyone has a path to God" when he first hears the word from the mullah in the hospital, to eventually sincerely believing in those words when he breaksdown and crys in the prison towards the end. When he talks to the prisoners towards the end, he begins to believe that there is also redemption for him as well as all the others. It seems that the mullah costume and identity saves Marmulak in a variety of occasions (when he puts it on in the hookah bar to evade arrest), but it also saves others as is the case with the woman who makes passports who receives a simple sandwich as as result of Marmulak's work and begins to repent and cry. It's also interesting how a misunderstanding on the part of two young men who believe Marmulak is helping an old lady when in reality he wants his fake passport turns into an act of goodness by Marmulak, which has a chain reaction and leads to a series of good acts. The movie has a lot of irony. Who would think that a convict turned mullah would bring a community together, and work with them to deliver food and money to those people in need.
The movie was eye opening in a number of ways. First, the elevated position of the Islamic clergy. Imams seem to be the final authority on not only religious matters, but much like clergy in Western society, they also take on the roles of therapist and social authority. Second, if the portrayal of Iranian society is correct, which I do not doubt, then most Iranians have somewhat the same attitude towards the clergy as Western society does. There seems to be a mixture of devotion, respect, and ambivalence among Iranian laity towards their imams. Thirdly, it would seem that the movie sees most imams as not really in touch with their people, not as compassionate as they should be, and far too concerned with upholding traditions. Overall, the movie emphasized to me that Iranian attitudes towards religious institutions are not so different than most Western attitudes towards religious institutions.
I interpreted this film as a commentary on the polarization between orthodox Islamic clerics and Islam as practiced by the majority of Iran. In the film, there were numerous comments concerning the lack of enthusiasm for religion (on the train when not many passengers participate in prayer or at the mosque when a comment is made to Marmulak that not many people attend anymore). While struggling to give a fake sermon, Marmulak recalls the phrase, "There is as many pathways to God as there are people," a line repeated throughout the film. I interpret this line and the following it accrues, as a challenge to old traditions, that religion is an individual thing and should be treated as such. The popularity of this movie in Iran and its subsequent banning by the government is also significant. For a country that is based on religion, themes such as the individual pursuit of God, could possibly threaten the power of the government. If religion does function this way people may interpret it however they want instead of what is dictated to them.
The popularity of Marmulak is that he speaks directly and in a language the people understand (at one point in the film Marmulak gives a sermon on the same physical level as the people listening) which is appealing to a younger, progressive and increasingly technological Iran and differs to that of the older, disconnected tradition. This contrast between reform and tradition is a theme that continues to repeat itself in Iranian culture.
What a contrast between the public and clergy! Before this class, my knowledge of Iran was clouded by media images of women and men separated, religious practices, and poverty. Oops! It is so interesting to have a new perspective. Most interesting to me is the way the government has banned this movie. In religious studies, I learn about the Reformations and how the advent of personal faith and relationships with God was a huge threat to the leadership figures. The churches separated and religious practices have significantly transformed in Christianity. This seems so similar to me. The threat that personal faith brings is questioning the religious leadership, but here, it is also tied to the government leadership. This is probably considerably threatening given the turmoil that has occupied Iran for "28 Years of Revolution." The film seems like a call to action, a huge proposal... how long can this theocracy keep power as the majority of the people develop new ideas?
In general I really enjoyed this film because it really showed two sides of Iran: the strict nature of society (depicted through the criminal justice system) and also the pious, religious loving society. For many people who don't know about Iran, I think its easy to assume that all of Iran is consumed in religious piety and devotion, but I think the movie proved that Iranian society is diverse. Religion did play a huge role in the movie of course, but it played a positively influential role. Religion was viewed as the hope and opportunity, and through the main character, I think Islam is portrayed as an accepting religion that is generous to different people's desires and wishes. The movie was refreshing and enlightening.
This film made interesting points about religion and the society in Iran. It was interesting to watch how Marmulak's character transformed throughout the movie. I think Marmulak's approach to religion may been seen as controversial because Marmulak gave open criticism of the clergy. Criticism towards the clergy is not common in such films, and it was interesting to watch. During the film, you get a sense that there are differences between the public and the clergy which may explain why this film was banned in Iran.
This film made interesting points about religion and the society in Iran. It was interesting to watch how Marmulak's character transformed throughout the movie. I think Marmulak's approach to religion may been seen as controversial because Marmulak gave open criticism of the clergy. Criticism towards the clergy is not common in such films, and it was interesting to watch. During the film, you get a sense that there are differences between the public and the clergy which may explain why this film was banned in Iran.
I think this film is a really great commentary on what religion has become in Iran. There is a general ambivalence towards it by most people, while there are some very religious people who take the words of the Mullahs as the the absolute truth.
The two guys who were constantly following Marmulak throughout the movie and peppering him with silly questions shows how ridiculous total devotion to religion, without any thought, is. The audience laughs at them, and they are presented as a joke, not because of their beliefs, but because they have no ideas of their own, they mindlessly try to cling to the words of others.
I particularly liked Marmulak's statement that if you try too hard to push someone into heaven, you might end up pushing them out the other side of hell. I think this is a great commentary on the current Islamic Republic's attempts to regulate morality within Iran. They are trying to force the Iranian people to comply with their ideas of right and wrong, but this has created a vast underground of drugs and sex in cities such as Tehran.
Overall, I absolutely loved this movie. It was funny but, at the same time, it reveals some very important truths about religion in Iran and the current regime. It shows that, if you blindly follow a man because he claims to represent God, you may end up being fooled by a theif.
As someone who will admit to knowing very little about the Iranian people, I feel that this movie did a good job in putting into a context the role that religion plays in the lives of the Iranian people.
The only image that I saw growing up about the Iranians is that they were religious fanatics that used religion as an excuse to be violent. After taking this class and seeing the movie have I been able to see what role religion plays in their lives. As a person raised in a very religious community I can not help but see how their religious conviction is at the level that we as Christians in theory strive to be but because of the culture of separation of church and state we are pressured into having religious beliefs but not practicing it in all aspects of our lives. To tell you the truth seeing this attempt to try to incorporate religious beliefs to all aspects of life does make me feel as though I am truly not religous.
As some others commented on the movie does show how their religious beliefs are very similar to those in the west and that there is much in common.
The film Marmulak is a religious satire. The people listened to what the Mullah had to say, however ridiculous and nonsensical it was. It exaggerates how people will blindly follow someone with religious power. For example, the young man’s redundant questions on life.
But the film also showed people not abiding to the religious standard. For example, the bar with robbers, the man who asked Marmulak if it was ok to have an affair while on long trips, the young woman and boy who sat talking, and Marmulak's own character.
The film shows the diversity of people in Iran, while highlighting the irony of some peoples eagerness to follow the mullah
This movie was interesting because it showed how religion could have such a great impact on peoples lives, especially a corrupt person like marmulak. By taking on the role of a mullah, the people he used to make fun of, he was able to change his life around because of his involvement in religion. I think it is important that he had a refreshing view and wasn't the typical run of the mill mullah, because if he was, there is no way the people would follow him and be excited to learn about religion the way they did. His followers were a bit naive because of how they listened to everything he said, but i guess this is just part of religion because many people just listen to and do whatever their preacher tells them to, even if its wrong. I think this movie became so popular because it relates to one of the biggest problems in Iran, which is the strictness of the religious leaders.
I really enjoyed this movie. In the begining I really had low expectations for it based on the title, "The Lizard". I did not find it very intruiging. Although, the movie was charming to me, with the main character one of many flaws and an obvious social outcast. To see his evolution in spirituality develop was one that got me thinking after the class on a much deeper level. I appreciate the fact that the movie was humorous, since it kept outr attention. Though, I feel that the message, that anyone can find God, was one that provoked real internal thought.
The actors were surprisingly great and I could understand the culture very well. The plot was very creative and educational of Iran's culture. "everyone has a different path to God" was a very interesting approach to make every situation positive and I saw myself relating to this. The setting was original and the dialogue was creatively humorous. I believe the film can inspire many and portray an accurate Persian culture.
I liked how this movie drew a distinction between the highly religious and the strictly secular. Often times, I find that there is a misconception which exists about the Middle East, that every citizen is a highly dogmatic zealot, who follows their religious leaders blindly in the belief that they speak for God. This movie, however, depicts a society where religious leaders are not regarded with the reverence of "God on Earth;" rather, this movie depicts Iranian society much like American society with a healthy mix of religious and non-religious people. Furthermore, the religious tone of this movie does not keep me from the belief that it differs too greatly from American movies. The message is simple, life your life as well as you can and you may find the road to something better, be it God, spirituality, or a decidedly different philosophy on life. This is what I grabbed from the movie, the belief that this is a Universal concept expressed various ways and especially through this movie.
I really enjoyed watching this movie. I wasn’t to sure what to expect at first but as the movie progressed it became more interesting. This movie clarified a few misconceptions I had about the social classes in Iran. I also like watching the transformation of Marmulak. The message of the movie with regards to spirituality was also nice. Overall it was a good movie.
I really liked this movie because it distinguished between being religious and being secular. It shows how a relgigious supreme leader can influence people, no matter how ridiculous his ideals are. It was interesting to watch the humor in this movie, and see how an Islamic government can transform individuals' beliefs. "There are as many pathways to God as there are people," was repeated throughout the film and it really stuck in my mind. I think that having a government based on religion makes people believe that there is only good and evil, and I believe that everyone should have the freedom to believe in whatever religion they want.
I liked how the movie emphasized how Islam is accessible to all people. Islam is a very rational religion and it makes sense that our consciences, having been created by the same being who has created our religion, are highly reliable in helping us distinguish bad from good and good from bad. The imams are not endowed with any more reason and or wisdom than the rest of us, and the success of the escapee in helping the community had to do with his using what little knowledge he had and applying it to the real world. The escapee was using his brain, he was thinking- something that the accumulation of all the knowledge in the world is nothing without. I really enjoyed this movie and will probably end up watching it again with my parents sometime in the near future- I know my dad will love it!
This film was one of the best Iranian films I have ever seen. It incorporated a lot of different aspects of Iranian culture and religion, and went against the Western stereotype that all Iranians are devout Muslims. It was interesting to see the transition of Marmulak from a hopeless prisoner to a spiritual guide, as he put on the persona of a Mullah to escape the police. He didn't necessarily fully embrace Islam at the end of the film though, which I somewhat expected to happen. Instead, he seemed to have simply explored an aspect of faith and spirituality that was universal to all people, and he even served as a source of motivation towards others in the village. He proved that you don't necessarily have to be tied down to a certain religion in order to have guidance and morality in life.
I thought the movie was a wonderful illustration of the reverance that Mullahs receive in their day to day lives. Marmulak was able to experience this many times once he assumed the role of a Mullah. An instance of this was seen in the train when one of the train operators encouraged Marmulak to enjoy one of the train's suites. Although, Marmulak had been a criminal in the past, the reverance that he felt as a religious figure in disguise greatly impacted his perception of life and people. He felt that relgion had given him a second chance-- practically as well as figuratively. This is shown when he gives a beautiful speech to the group of prisoner's and the warden, he proclaimed with tears of forgiveness that "everyone has a path to god." Lastly, the film also showed that creative and thoughtful writing could be as entertaining, if not more, than a multi-million dollar blockbuster.
I better get my last comment in here before class starts :-)
I think the movie offered a unique insight to life inside of Iran aside from the tainted image the media portrays. Whenever you see Iran in the news, its about Ahmadinejad or weapons of mass destruction. If not that, then you see women clad in Burqas or people demonstrating or protesting. It's always something distasteful.
This movie was very well put together. I'm glad to see that Islam was portrayed in the way it was. I too, like many of the students in the class, expected that most Iranians were pious. I guess it's partially because of the nature of an Islamic Republic, you'd assume because the religion has such a strong influence in government that people too, would be much more religious.
Having visited Iran for a month a few years past, I found this film incredibly real. My family is not extrememly religious for varying reasons, so to watch a film that openly criticized the muslim clergy and encouraged the clergy's acceptance of criticism as the only way to stay in contact with the Iranian people was refreshing.
I also agree that the film did a good job of portraying the Iranian people and culture. When I visited, at multiple times each day prayers could be heard on loud speakers throughout the cities, and I recall my grandmother stopping to do her prayers, regardless of what was happening. The devotion to God and one's faith is what is important to many peopple, and less so the aristocracy ever present in Iran at this time.
the movie was a good break from the political theory in class. also, the presentation of the main character relative to religious, or ideal life, was great. the commentary on both the secular world acting within the religious, as well as vice versa, was a great writing accomplishment. the movie makes commentary on finding faith, hope, and grace even within the soul of a criminal. through islam, the lizard was able to see what he was doing and analyze the world relative to that perspective. as he slowly melts, different aspects of his humanity begin to appear. the final cathartic moments towards the end send a poignant message of salvation and open-mindedness to the viewer.
As someone with little contact with Iranian culture, the one thing that surprised me was amount of power select members of the clergy have. As with Marmulak, the power that came with the robe was tremendous. The reverence that people viewed him with was another shock. I dont know any political or religious figure that is viewed with as much respect.
What also got to me was how much the secular and religious parts of Iran are tied together. Especially looking at the prison system and how it is the warden's duty to change them religiously.
The line probably most famous in the film--there are many paths to God was one of the main themes and shown through the Lizard. Although very corrupt in the beginning, he slowly learns to repent throughout the movie even though he impersonates the clergy.
Marmulak was a good lesson for me in not judging a book by its cover (or in this case a DVD). By that I meant that I was genuinely surprised by the twist at the end of the film and the note of pathos it struck with the viewer after such a lengthy satire where nothing seems to have been spared. I must confess to finding religious satire a little tedious these days for the reason that it seems to dovetail so perfectly with that favorite whipping boy, about whom everyone and their uncle feels they have the right to lash: namely, Islam. Mocking religion seems to me to cater to our own cheerfully Western concepts of secular public space where everything is up for a joke, that I was a little put off by that ostensibly being the engine that drove this film for as long as it did. In actual fact, it seems that the last laugh was on me, and it is rare that I have been this happy to be wrong. When Reza speaks at the end of the film and his voice cracks with emotion about everyone having their own unique path to God, I was both caught off guard and moved. That the filmmaker found a path to something sincere and--dare I say it-—a note of hope at the end, made the film ultimately worthwhile for me and far more original than the standard, arch, typically Western, mockery of all things religious that I expected.
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