The Wind Will Carry Us

This film complies with the ways Dudley Andrew believes a foreign film and its study should be. It is very ‘international’ not because it is spoken in a language not our own or because it is set in a foreign country with an unfamiliar backdrop, but because it shows us elements of another culture without spoon feeding the answers to students. Viewers are definitely “smothered” by the international dimension. However, I do not believe this film is able to communicate well with outside viewers. While one of its goals may be to inform viewers about the culture, customs and way of life in Iran, it is ultimately unable to relate to its audience because it lacks the necessary qualities needed for a film to feel applicable and relevant to the lives of its audience. The film may have had many things to say about the way we live our lives now, in such a fast-paced, success driven society or about how old traditions have been put at odds against the new traditions of modern society. However, because the filmmakers chose such a different and unfamiliar way of unfolding the storyline, when there is little plot action and the character development moves at such a slow pace, the movie looks at first glance to be nothing but conversations between the visitor and the locals about different insignificant everyday things. And while many other elements could be successful at helping to keep viewers interested or developing the story line, the film ultimately fails because the narrative seems continual and unending. These elements, such as the breathtaking backdrop beautifully captured by the filmmakers and the unique private look into an unfamiliar society’s culture, are in the end proven to be inadequate at making up for the loss stemming from the inability to relate to its audience.