Women Without Men

Stronger on beautiful imagery than on narrative flow.

Though the narrative could use more depth and detail, the film generally absorbs with its strong performances, stirring emotions and vivid imagery.

Shirin Neshat's film, a magical-realist cry from the heart, is as up-to-date as last year's pro-democracy protests.

A powerful and provocative look at the seismology of the Iranian social order and the connective tissue that sustains Iranian women in particular.

This beautifully made film (which won the best director award at last year's Venice Film Festival) is the very definition of an art house movie with limited appeal, but its political import gives it added talking points that will draw attention.

Unfortunately, on the way to delivering that message, it becomes weighted down by its own dreary self-importance.

An eerie resurrection regains some good will, but we'll have to wait for Neshat to catch up with the art of storytelling.