Khuzestan Province in Iran is underwater. It's difficult to tell where the road ends, the shoulder begins or where is the split between the shoulder and actual waterways. Into this weather event comes Amir (Amir Hossein Tahiri), his almost due wife Mahla (Mahdeih Mousavi), and Navid (Reza Koolghani) are dropped off to collect their van headed to Tehran for a music competition of female singers. Some of the contestants are solo, duo's, or in our protagonists' case a trio. As Amir goes to collect the van and the band gets on the road. The impact of the flood is evident as the van gets moving to push the water aside as they go. We see the inside of the spacious vehicle that is more of a small bus with several rows of seating. The journey is slow with traffic slowing to go around flocks of sheep making progress even more difficult. The plan is to get to Tehran as quickly as possible with two scheduled stops. Mahla has to stop to get a dress for her performance and Navid has to pick up his beloved guitar for the performance.
As the band travels along the road they encounter many everyday situations alongside the extraordinary ones. They take the wrong turn or the wrong road leading to asking for directions and being forced to turn around. Several roadblocks that require negotiations, washed out roads that require detours, and unexpected events that pop up along the way that the trio has to navigate.
Director Manijeh Hekmat's story specifically highlights the resilience of the Iranian people. Faced with a flood and the need to evacuate. Friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike are ready and willing to help their fellow citizens. Amir and Navid don't hesitate to jump out and push when they come across a friend Amed stuck in a deep patch of mud. To get past one roadblock the band thing quickly agreeing to deliver supplies to a refugee camp in place of a vehicle having mechanical problems. The quieter moments are also given their chance to breathe. Mahla's daughter kicks bringing Amid to her to sings lullaby to their soon to be born daughter. When Mahla goes to pick out her dress to find her friends home washed away in a mudslide the two break out into laughter as they stand face to face holding hands knee deep in the mud.
Bandar Band is an engaging road movie. The participants navigate several scenarios many unexpectedly as they try to meet their 6 P.M. deadline for the show in Tehran. As the van makes its way through the flooded landscape, dirt roads, two way, and on the rare occasion four lane highway the audience peers thought the front windshield trying to get an idea of want is in store up ahead. The film is a window into life in Iran mainly in smaller communities that are not regularly seen on film.
**** Out of 4.
Bandar Band | Manijeh Hekmat | Iran/Germany | 2020 | 75 Minutes.
Tags: Flood, Musicians, Iran, Khuzestan Province, Pregnancy, Talent Show, Competition, Speed Trap, Lullaby.
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