Peter Pelz

This is simply one of the best films I have ever seen. A beautiful, thoughtful and to my mind great film. There are resonances, probably unconscious, with Schubert's Winterreise but with a more positive and touching resolution. Everyone should see it. The film observes modern. relationships with a clear eye, sensitivity and astonishingly wide perspectives, all coming from the various people the main protagonist meets. There are some daring cinematic ideas, including one long tracking shot as the young man moves into the blackness of night, a moment of crisis from which he emerges and then the journey continues as he opens himself up to a series of extraordinary encounters, all of them rooted in a reality we can all recognize. This is a film I want to return to again and again.

A beautiful film with a staggering central performance which gives an unusual and sensitive perspective on the migrant experience. Subtle and without recourse to melodrama the young man Ramin's difficult predicament is revealed in all its emotional and practical complexity. Despite the sadness there are signs of hope, especially in the relationship with his landlady who understand and becomes a new family for him. The film ends on an ambiguous note: will he continue to try and move on, or will he make roots in his new country? The shot with the young boy diving into the water for a coin makes for a memorable ending. I appreciate the way the film reveals its narrative elliptically, so we never really know the whole story of Ramin's past life, just intimations and a few bits of tantalizing information. For instance how exactly did he get those horrific marks on his back? All that matters is his present situation and what might happen in the future. It is astonishing to me how the actor Arash Marandi manages to express so many different emotions. He is immensely appealing and we root for him all the way through and hope no more harm comes to him. In one of the crucial scenes a threat of expected violence is diffused with impressive insight into confused emotions. In my opinion more films should have dance sequences. If ever I were to direct a film I would include dance, especially if the subject matter is as melancholy as Fireflies. The highlight scene for me takes place in the kitchen when in an equally beautiful performance by Edwarda Gurolla the landlady teaches Ramin how to dance. In the following Carnival street scene the music and movement lift the spirits. Films like Fireflies have a tendency to slip under the radar and disappear, which is a huge pity because they are among the best films being made, on the most important subjects, wonderfully done and deserve to be seen, enjoyed, studied and discussed by everyone. My hat off to the director Bani Khoshnoudi. She has made a beautifully crafted piece. Thank you and awards to all who took part.