Gabbeh is an Iranian
film produced by Khalil Daroudchi, written and directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf in
1996. The film Gabbeh gets
its name from a Persian rug with pictures or patterns woven into it. It belongs
to the New Iranian Cinema and the Iranian New Wave started in the 1990’s. The
cast includes Abbas (Uncle), Shaghayeh Djodat (Gabbeh), Hossein Moharami (Old
Man), Rogheih Moharami (Old Woman) and Parvaneh Ghalandari. Gabbeh has also been awarded 3 awards. The Best Director
Award at the Catalonian International Film Festival, the Silver Screen Award at
the Singapore International Film Festival and lastly, the Best Artistic Contribution
Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Gabbeh starts with an elderly couple bickering with each other as they carry on
with their day routine of cleaning their Gabbeh (designed rug). They get to the
lake to wash the rug, as a young woman appears magically and helps them both
with cleaning it. She belongs to a clan whose history is depicted in the design
of a Gabbeh.
She believes that a mystery guy on a white horse will come to get her.
Gender and sexuality in Gabbeh
has been told in a multi layered way with its realistic and magical scenes and
is also one of the first films the west saw. We hear the constant animal and
water noises as well as wind, fire and rain noises. Throughout the film, women
are shown a lot while doing their daily jobs.
Different languages have also
been used, such as Hindi, Persian and Turkish. As we hear Gabbeh’s story unravel, we hear
the dreams she has and the obstacles in her way. Gabbeh’s father has bad temper
issues because of her ugliness.
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