24 Frames

It's hard to pinpoint an apt description for Abbas Kiarostami's final film, "24 Frames." Some wouldn't even call it a film, as it depends on one's definition of the term. It's certainly a patience-tester, too, consisting of 24 static frames that focus on nature, animals, scenic vistas and more for a total of four-and-a-half minutes each. Creatures call in and out of the frame. The wind blows a tree branch left and right. A chirping bird sits on a windowsill. A group of people stand on a bridge and watch buildings illuminate as the sun sets.

It's a purely observational experiment, at once a screensaver, a collection of paintings and photographs come to life and the work of an artist undeniably curious about the world that surrounds us. In the end, it's hard to deem this cinematic work as anything but remarkable.

Yet, as stated before, this is an artistic effort that demands the utmost patience and is certainly an acquired taste. Some are bound to fall asleep (I know I yawned plenty of times), but I feel that's part of the movie's unique charm. It challenges you with each subsequent frame, bringing you into a world and asking you to stare and take it in. It's the cinematic equivalent to sitting on a park bench and taking the time to soak in everything that surrounds you. It's Zen Buddhism brought to life with aesthetic riches -- a meditation on our existence in general.

Perhaps what's most fascinating about this experiment is its inception and journey toward its final form. Made by the Iranian maestro during the last three years of his life, Kiarostami took influence from paintings and still photographs, then brought them to life through animation. His goal was to capture what happens in the moments before and after a photograph is taken. It explores artistic languages in ways that are wholly singular and undeniably passionate. Its cinematic themes are prevalent throughout, as is its soulful scrutiny of life on earth in general.

Arriving on Criterion Collection, a well-deserved honor for this compendium of everything Kiarostami loved, "24 Frames" includes an array of bonus features, including:

� New interview with director Abbas Kiarostami's son Ahmad Kiarostami, who helped finish the film after his father's death
� New conversation between Iranian film scholar Jamsheed Akrami and film critic Godfrey Cheshire
� New short documentary about the making of the film by Abbas Kiarostami collaborator Salma Monshizadeh
� Trailer
� An essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri

"24 Frames"
Criterion Collection Blu-ray
$31.96
https://www.criterion.com/films/29399-24-frames