This is Not a Film, but It's Definitely Filmmaking - Brows Held High

Original Upload Date: 11/20/2014
How a movie shot entirely in a man's own living room can blow your mind.
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[@goodenough5396]

As I write this, it's been six days since the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked mass protests and riots across Iran. The situation is developing quickly amidst a UN summit and the Ayatollah's failing health. Some commentators are suggesting revolutionary fervor. Let's see what happens. I think movies like This is Not a Film about people living their lives under repressive regimes are an increasingly important reality check. I remember a few years ago when Trump assassinated Soleimani, how angry I felt that we seemed to be on the warpath. And I understand that that anger comes from an understanding, through the art about Iran I've consumed, this film and this video about this film included, that reminds me, reminds us, that there are people who live in Iran who are not caricatures. I have so much more in common with the average Iranian than I have with any of the politicians and industrialists and religious figureheads that tell these two countries how to live and how to hate each other. There's another 20-something film nerd in Tabriz who is scared for their life and their country right now, seeing the bravery around them and excited about what it represents and also afraid of a powerful government and afraid of the instability that will come, and I'm right there with them. That's why we need movies like this. It helps us remember that.

[@KagurasSacrifice]

This is why it makes me sad to see Kyle so self-deprecating online. This show is so important. Well done, once again.

[@tatehildyard5332]

It takes a sense of humor to handle subject matter like this on the Internet.

[@stellaluna92]

Love the use of Flock of Seagulls "I Ran" in the background lol

[@stellar678]

The intro annoyed me a bit and I almost skipped out on the rest - but I am SO very glad that I overcame that impulse. What a brilliant analysis and history lesson wrapped up in one. Thank you so much for this!

[@halfpintrr]

What a final shot though. I mean, I brewed over with tears. What a badass director.

[@Lovelife-lw7fy]

He’s now in prison indefinitely for making a film called “ not a bear “! He just went on a hunger strike .

[@evanlinden4410]

Kyle's iguana fanboying is adorable. That is all.

[@theheavymetalbrony2257]

At first I thought that this was going to be some kind of joke-review about a movie that was overly pretentious and full of itself with Kyle giving it praise until the end when he would reveal his utter rage towards the people who made one of the most boring films ever put to screen. Oh how wrong I was. At the end when Panahi picks up the camera and walks outside gave me both chills and a tear in my eye. I truly respect this man and I would like to thank Kyle for this truly awesome review :)

[@chrisdibella257]

DID I JUST HEAR I-RAN by FLOCK OF SEAGULLS WHEN TALKING ABOUT IRAN TALK ABOUT SNEAKING A FUCKING PUN. YOU ARE SO ON POINT THIS EPISODE.

[@Demosthenes6666]

It's even worse. "Iranian New Wave". What kind of music did Flock of Seagulls make again?

[@chrisdibella257]

Fuck, didn't even notice that,

[@Flowtail]

*my mind literally cannot even*

[@blackoutcity123]

I'm a practicing Muslim, and a Film Studies major. So, my relationship with Iran in film studies is a complex one. On one hand, I love to watch and study Iranian cinema. At the same time, every time I've talked about it, its always been positioned as in opposition to Islam in Iran. While im receptive to this reading of history, it always depresses me. It reminds me that the middle east had a legitimate capacity to reconcile secular life and religious life (in spaces including but not limited to art), but the U.S. pretty systematically destroyed that. So, now, we're stuck in a position where Islamic reactionary behavior justifies both right wing and left critiques of Islam that aren't, the best informed. Still, I'm glad Kyle made a video on Iranian cinema.

[@alchemicmercury]

God me too! Let me see if I can say this right: I love learning the history of the things that our cultures have in common. Like for example the history of Irans Film industry because it's evolution would be differant than mine. Beceause our countries both make movies but the paths we took to create cinema and why would be differant. Does that make sense? So I would love to hear or see what you know about Iranian Filmaking, film history and your point of view of...all of it. Does that make sense?

[@theitalianalien8477]

Using the song "I ran" while discussing Iran... pure genius

[@indyoinky]

I appreciate the layered joke of using a British new wave song with the words I ran in them to talk about the iranian new wave. 10/10 pun and joke sir!

[@MasamuneNoirFilms]

Oh, now I get it

[@quiroz923]

I wanted to watch this great review again after watching Panahi's new film, Taxi, now the THIRD film he's made since he was banned from making movies. It's a great film. If anyone reading this liked "this is not a film" or is interested in Panahi at all, it's a must.

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

Okay, Jafar Panahi is officially one of my personal fucking heroes now.

[@thomasdamours7325]

I JUST noticed that when discussing Iran's new wave, Kyle put the song "I Ran" by the New wave band A Flock of Seagulls. I am shooketh.

[@ChristianNeihart]

Kyle, I'd like to wish you the best of luck in succeeding in KZbin. Good luck and welcome. May you inspire your in your viewers an appreciation for art house cinema and an appreciation for culture and intelligence.

[@kellybeck4579]

For anyone wondering, Panahi is still working on movies. His newest feature just premiered at Cannes.

[@teresarivera1727]

HI Kyle! This is Not a Film remains to be one of my all-time favorites. I love how you succinctly described the ending, the image comes back to me again and again.

[@WTFisTingispingis]

Loooooove. Looooooove. I use my claws to show my looooooove.

[@YellowMage]

LAAAAAV.

[@teambreaggy5058]

I Laaavaaa you!!!!

[@miriamquintana755]

I literally just came to rewatch this for that part.

[@hannahmoran2149]

Kyle is extra adorable in this episode imo 🙈

[@MarnieRecord]

Welcome to KZbin Kyle! You look good. This episode is so inspirational, and I'm not saying that in a cheap greeting card way but in a "this made me really stop and think" way.

[@brunomunhoz1230]

I've seen this video twice before. Only now did I notice the reason for the song during the parts where he talks about Iranian cinema. Mind blown.

[@lucymoon]

SO interesting!

[@nazilakivi3980]

Hi Kyle, this was absolutely wonderful to see! A depiction of Iran without all the simplifications. Keep it up.

[@ThePa1riot]

Wow . . . I was . . . kind of expecting the first video of Kyle's I wasn't going to like. Some experimental art house piece that eschews narrative or even style that Kyle was going to somehow crowbar a meaning on to. I wish I could say I was pleasantly surprised but it's Kyle, I kind of expect this quality by now.

[@eclipsedbadger]

totally forgot to thank you Kyle! I presented my final essay about this movie last year, inspired by this review. I got a high note and approved my Communication class, so thank you SO much for inspiring me for my final essay, Kyle

[@ECL28E]

Loophole: The Not Movie

[@kdisley]

10:10 Looking for the traditional punny choice of music in this clip I was thinking, _"Well, okay, I suppose A Flock Of Seagulls is pretty New Wave in its style, but if you're going to use one of their songs maybe 'Photograph' would at least be closer to something cinematic? I mean, the title of this song isn't remotely film-related, it's called _*_'I - -"_* The belated, dumbfounded groan of the penny finally dropping echoed along my street and sent birds flying from trees. That has to be the longest walk for the shortest drink of water ever, and the moment of realisation was all the sweeter for it.

[@myfamilyiscrazy]

I just watched this and it was really fascinating. The way he talks about films and filmmaking and censorship makes me want to see his other works.

[@sanamubeen5728]

goose bumps literally! glad to have discovered this channel indeed. thank you for introducing me to Pannahi

[@juhaniaho6698]

As of February 3rd, 2023, Jafar Panahi has been set free. Source: Cahiers Du Cinéma

[@OfficialROZWBRAZEL]

I am so happy that coming back to binge this channel has lead me to this information

[@gnalkhere]

When I saw Nirvanna The Band The Show I felt like the meta formula hadn't been so meticulously used as much as Iranian cinema did. And Close-up is one of the best movies ever made.

[@Elementa2006]

I'm glad you made a reference to Cairo Station, I feel Egyptian cinema deserves its own video especially between the 50s to the 90s and how the industry changed when Egyptian business tycoon Talaat Harb passed away, Harb was a passionate fan of cinema and thanks to his status as the biggest business tycoon at the time financed and convinced banks to finance film productions in the country but after his death, many banks didn't feel financing film productions was worth the hassle so Egyptian cinema suffered the repercussions of that decision from the 80s right uptill the early 2000s. Despite that setback, film makers were still able to make classic movies during that period particularly as films started to tackle social and political subjects in the 70s and 80s and some of them would be right up Kyle's alley. As for art in Sunni dominated countries, while not as vast as in Shia dominated countries, there are examples of representational art in Sunni ruled part of the Muslim world as the Quran does not explicitly prohibit visual representation of any living being, it even uses the word musawwir (maker of forms, artist) as an epithet of God. The problem is the verse that contain more explicit prohibitions of images of living beings came from the hadiths (sayings attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad), which have to put in context have put written years after both the Quran was written after the passing of Muhammad so while many scholars take them as gospel, other scholars are skeptical about the credibility of the hadith as a number of them actually contradict parts of the Quran itself.

[@Akirakirakirakiraa]

First of all, thank you for the clarification on the last paragraph concerning representational art. Secondly though, do you have any recommendations for Egyptian cinema?

[@Elementa2006]

@@Akirakirakirakiraa The films by director Youseff Chahine is a good place to start such as Cairo Station and Alexandria... Why?, his style is inflow by Western filmmaking particularly European. You can search Egyptian movies on KZbin and find a lot, some of them even have English subtitles

[@Akirakirakirakiraa]

@@Elementa2006 thank you! I will put that filmmaker on my To Watch list. I truly appreciate it

[@lukewarmavenger]

Fantastic video. I found the last shot of Panahi's film incredibly powerful, and I loved your explanation.

[@reedjos08]

I'm watching Offside, another of Panahi's films tomorrow as part of my university course on a module covering Iranian New Wave, so thought I'd give this another look, still a great video.

[@kaironedwards]

One of my favourite videos essay I've seen this year

[@nemowindsor8724]

Since I graduated, I haven't had any great dissections of art film in my brain. Thanks so much for the free education!

[@alivatan234]

cannot underestimate how awesome this analysis of Iranian cinema was!

[@garethsmith3036]

gotta say, the iguana is pretty bad ass

[@GibusWearingMann]

I watched Bo Burnham's "Inside" and was reminded of this, oddly enough.

[@Tuckerscreator]

And now we're all trapped inside. This becomes a very relatable film. :p

[@notdeadjustyet8136]

Thank you soooo much! i've never even heard of many of these films ,even though i've got a degree in filmmaking and i've watched many unknown films (e.i. some north korean ones). And this is far from the first time you opened my eyes and blew my mind. 💜🖤♥️ You're the best

[@Garland41]

I still love this critique of yours. This is on my mind as I am in my Philosophy and the Arts class at Uni. I love your work.

[@miciarokiri5182]

Yeah, I found you!!! I didn't know what happened to you when I stopped seeing you on channelawesome, so glad to find you again!!

[@ruthielalastor2209]

That's so wonderful about the not-film reaching "the outside" and going for review on Rotten Tomatoes and everyone's sort of slyly in on it. It brings people together.

[@alexc2421]

Thank you so much for this video, I am doing a presentation on Iranian New Wave in my film class and this has helped me immeasurably. - It is super interesting and complex but you explained it so well ! thank you dude

[@TheGyroBarqusShow]

Now we got a lot of theaters here in (Saudi arabia). I've watched Once upon a time in Hollywood in a theater in Riyadh. Great experience for lover of Cinema like myself

[@GildedMoon]

Once you started describing the not-film's creation and distrubution it began to sound like if Lemony Snicket had narrated a scene in a Wes Anderson film...

[@MJFERMEZLA]

"They got one cinema theater... at least it's on Imax" In france, the country who create cinema... Imax is almost as inexistant than in this country... shit.

[@saimu2]

this was such a beautiful review and assessment!! thank you for sharing this :-)

[@KrisKrisKrissy]

Thank you for introducing me to this film! Now I need to see this.

[@Baalshazar]

Your stuff is awesome. Love it, glad I found you due to Nostalgia Girl.

[@gamestation2690]

+XxBaalshazarxX Jafar Panahi came out with a new movie this month, called "Taxi."

[@seanbridges3075]

I wonder if the birthday cake stunt might have inspired a bit in The Grand Budapest Hotel!

[@KaiseaWings]

Does anyone know if I buy this DVD where the money might go? Does it go to Panahi? Somehow?

[@doesntmatter8330]

Thank you Kyle.

[@jackchurch7443]

This film is on YT. Also watch No Bears and Taxi.

[@austinsmith538]

Amazing video Kyle!

[@jacobdominguez7808]

Wow. This guy is my new hero.

[@tatehildyard5332]

Jafhar or Kyle?

[@jacobdominguez7808]

+Tate Hildyard Jafhar. Kyle seems like a nice guy too though. (;

[@Foxpawed]

Oh yeah; As someone who has been in a class with a pet iguana, no you don't want one. They smell terrible.

[@AdilKhan-vw6rr]

Awesome Video essay

[@Fenifilms118]

Love u man.. U made something about one of my favourite director. Loooove💙

[@ImranSahir1]

I have always said that Iranians are so damn talented. They're extremely creative and inherently rebellious and curious bunch.

[@rudeboyzippo]

LOVE!!!!! Kyle should definitely get himself an Iguana. If you raise one from a baby, they become very friendly and loyal pets. Mine were extremely acclimated to human interaction, and would freely roam my bedroom, always startling my guests.

[@CplAnguadaEarth]

The part at 5:44 appears to be incorrect about the Cross D'Or part, and Kyle agreed so when I asked, so yeah. Minor update.

[@saedimic]

That would be an idea for another summer. Movies from and with directors and actors, that have to face the law.

[@pinkcloudsnightlightbell]

Thank you for doing this work and on such a platform as KZbin. Im kicking myself for having let my depression drift away from your viewership and your work! I h ope the holidays and New Years treat you kindly--- and here's to even more life to not fascism ! Hehehe

[@Noelle_Meier]

It's like a Cat crossed with a Dragon.......= Toothless?

[@JuanDVene]

Toothless is more like a dog honestly

[@FHK1817]

the mirror is one of the best movie ever!!

[@RickClassico]

I watched this movie after seeing this review, i enjoyed it immensely.

[@van8ryan]

Finally got the DVD on Amazon, thanks to this review. Definitely a great movie.......even though it's not a film.

[@Galvion1980]

I want to have a pet iguana and name him Kyle! You have ruined me, Mr Kallgren!

[@ErikThureson]

Good work!

[@anarchistmugwump9137]

Trust me dude you don't want an iguana, they are surly, aggressive, and smelly.

[@kaelang12]

sounds like most roommates lol

[@Theriot6592]

5:47 When did Sean Connery become Ayatollah of Iran?

[@Flowtail]

12:54 But what was “that thing with the pig”?

[@wormswithteeth]

Clever film maker. Now that's meta!

[@trueindian510]

Where can I watched it

[@shorebird-y]

Where do you find copies of these movies? Do you find downloads or buy DVDs? This Is Not A Film is no longer on Netflix.

[@myfamilyiscrazy]

It's no longer streaming but you can get the physical DVD from Netflix. That's how I got it.

[@kurt05081994]

I just got home from seeing the newest Jafar Panahi movie 3 faces (3 kvinder) and it was amazing Still just as meditation on what is movie and a feminist wonder This video was what made me aware of his existence and now I have seen to of his films. If I ever find the mirror and the circle I really want to see them too The factor that he is still not allowed to make films is so unbelievable. This movie is amazing and please find it and see it. It is really good

[@ambergong7201]

what is the movie from clip 17:15?

[@exceedcharge1]

Kyles room is smaller than i thought

[@happysad2]

8:45 That's NAGGER, with an A, btw...😉

[@dannytheman1313]

After watching this I now want an iguana loooooove!

[@QwertyGirl789]

....I'm crying...... dammit

[@cocobread2569]

the little girl took me by surprise. wow

[@jhonjacson798]

wait so that breakdown where the girl just freakes out and says screw you guys I'm going home, is that staged or not?

[@m.f.b2323]

not

[@jhonjacson798]

alexs123 in that case I want to show people that movie XD

[@zoelyons1264]

holy shit dude

[@frankienamosaki7547]

Haha And I-Ran, 'I-Ran so fay away...'

[@BeefBronson]

The fact that most of your videos have less views than a shitty meme that I made one time is criminal.

[@goORIOLES236]

Just like how Supa Hot Fiya is not a rapper, this is not a film.

[@NOMAD-qp3dd]

Cat crossed with a dragon. 🤣

[@asafisher7407]

dam it now I want an Iguana

[@rotomfan63]

I didn't know there were homes that good in Iran.

[@Hoopoe.111]

Yes, that's ultimate ignorant prejudice.

[@NunSuperior]

This is not a comment.

[@whitherwhence]

1:18 Iguana button

[@theletterm1787]

M

[@HouseholdWheel]

I will never understand religion.