Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: ZALAVA [Toronto International Film Festival 2021 - Virtual]

The notion of superstition as a construct or a societal response is an interesting structure for a movie. For "Zalava", a Midnight Madness movie set and shot in Iran, is about what is seen and what is not seen, shown and not shown. This type of movie was never going to be gore based but instead is based on the beliefs which it shows and the repercussions of words vs. actions. The film isn't as much horror as it is a character drama with a genre bent. The most powerful part of the film is the love story which is both chaste and fraught with sadness. The idea of logic and emotion especially between a government sergeant and a local doctor shows understanding as the local village swirls in the idea of "demons" to explain problems.

Granted there might be a demon. The character of Armadan who pushes himself as an exorcist has the harks of the mystic but the truth of what he is speaking of or capturing is all about stirring up doubt. One specific scene inside the lead officer's quarters which incudes the stalking by a cat is fairly well done because it exposes the paranoia of the scenario. The film is relatively FX free but an early accident definitely paves the way for what is to come. Subtle details also hark to a greater issue either forensic or pathological. However the idea is not so steeped in local mythoology or lore to make it inaccessible in terms of story. The story is said to have taken place in 1979 which might also be a reflection of its time in many ways. But the essence of the film is replete in its irony in its final shots as a celebration takes place in the shadow of tragedy. B

By Tim Wassberg