TABOOR
A film by Vahid Vakilifar
Taboor is about a man who seeks to protect his hypersensitive body from the daily rise in temperature caused by pervasive electromagnetic waves.
He concocts an aluminum jump suit which he wears under abundant layers of clothing. Despite his fragile health, every evening he rides his motor cycle to keep appointments with his customers.
He works as a pest control man who destroys cockroach nests. After each mission the man plunges into the dark heart of the city, crisscrossing the far flung streets of a megapolis in which time has stood still and from which the tumult of the day has disappeared. While awaiting the dawn, he must confront the many intrigues of the night.
The film has long shots, and superb sound recording. The minutest details while in the lift, and in almost all sequences of the film. Long shots establish the situation and give us the impression of almost being there with the central character.
The scene where this protagonist notices his colleague’s dead body is superbly portrayed. Even those scenes of simulation take the viewer in a different world.
Right when the film begins, the director pays tribute to his father, and his love for his mother to whom he has dedicated this film.
A brief interview with the director Vahid Vakilifar:
FILMY TOWN: What does Taboor mean?
VAHID VAKILIFAR: Taboor means the centre of the world. It is also called as navel of the earth as per Mesopotamian mythology, it is the navel of the earth.
FILMY TOWN: All throughout it appears you haven’t used any additional lighting.
VAHID VAKILIFAR: I like only natural lighting, and as you have noticed, we have made use of only the available lighting throughout the film.
FILMY TOWN: Any aspect of film making where you have experimented with?
VAHID VAKILIFAR: There are no dialogues in the film at all. I chose this particular form as I believe it best suits the atmosphere of the story I invoke.
FILMY TOWN: How is the film received commercially?
VAHID VAKILIFAR: It is a slow, serious film. It has been critically acclaimed at several international film festivals. I do not expect some box office frenzy when it is commercially released as my film has heaviness in the theme.
FILMY TOWN: What is your mother’s response to your film?
VAHID VAKILIFAR: Though she confessed that she did not understand the film, my mother appreciated the film. And this compliment from my mother means everything in the world for me.
