Watch Chicken with Plums

Chicken with Plums is a 2011 French drama film directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, based on Satrapi's graphic novel of the same name. The movie has a star-studded cast, including Mathieu Amalric, Edouard Baer, and Maria de Medeiros. The movie is set in Tehran, Iran, in 1958. Nasser-Ali Khan (Mathieu Amalric) is a famous musician who plays the tar, a traditional Iranian instrument. He is deeply depressed because his treasured tar has been broken, and he cannot find a replacement. No one can provide him with a tar capable of recreating the sound of his tar, and he feels lost without it. He decides to die, and so lies down in his bed and waits for death to come.

The rest of the film is a surrealist, nonlinear journey through Nasser-Ali's past, his interactions with his estranged wife (Maria de Medeiros) and two children, and his memories of lost loves. It travels through his dreams and delusions and tells the story of his life leading up to his decision to commit suicide.

Throughout the movie, Nasser-Ali tells stories about his past, including how he fell in love with a woman named Irâne (Golshifteh Farahani), who he believed was his soulmate. Despite his love for her, she eventually marries his brother. Nasser-Ali also reminisces about his great passion for music and how it helped him escape the difficulties of his younger years.

As Nasser-Ali's life flashes before his eyes, he realizes that there were many moments of happiness and beauty that he neglected while focusing on his lost love and his broken tar. This realization leads him to question his decision to die, and whether it is truly the answer to his problems.

The story is presented in a nonlinear format, with flashbacks blending seamlessly into the present, and the tales of the past and present interwoven in a way that creates a powerful, emotional experience for the viewer. Satrapi and Paronnaud's use of vivid, colorful animation and surrealistic imagery adds to the feeling that the viewer is experiencing something unique and otherworldly.

The film touches on themes of love, the search for meaning in life, and the struggle for artistic expression. It also explores the complex relationships between family members and the human desire for connection and understanding.

The cast is excellent, with Mathieu Amalric delivering a powerful performance as Nasser-Ali, capturing both his internal struggles and his passion for music. Edouard Baer and Maria de Medeiros are also impressive in their roles, adding depth and nuance to their characters and their relationships with Nasser-Ali.

The movie's score, composed by Olivier Bernet, is also noteworthy, with its haunting melodies and traditional Iranian music adding to the emotional intensity of the film.

In conclusion, Chicken with Plums is a visually stunning and emotionally moving film that offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of life, love, and the human condition.

Chicken with Plums is a 2011 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 69.