In the Bathtub of the World

"In the Bathtub of the World" is a highly introspective and deeply personal film directed and performed by Caveh Zahedi. This 2001 documentary-style film serves as a visual diary or memoir, encapsulating a complete year of the director's life through an unfiltered lens. Lengthy yet endearing, this film also features supporting roles from actors Amanda Field and Abie Hadjitarkhani.

In an interestingly novel attempt, Zahedi decides to film a minute of his life every day for an entire year. This unique approach to storytelling, while seemingly piecemeal, gradually builds up to a compelling narrative that provides audiences a glimpse into a yearlong snapshot of Zahedi's life.

The film is essentially a compilation of everyday moments that are typically deemed inconsequential. Zahedi's camera, however, finds profound sentimentality in these ordinary instances. Through this exploration, Zahedi offers a raw and honest look at himself and his surroundings, from his personal happiness and creativity, to his struggles and tribulations.

Amanda Field, the playwright and actress, brings her theatrical sensibilities to this experiment, lending the film an additional element of poignancy and depth. She plays a noteworthy role, grounding Zahedi's eccentricities with her intrinsic sense of stability and warmth. The chemistry between Field and Zahedi is as candid as the rest of the visual diary, bringing in an active dimension of relationship dynamics.

Abie Hadjitarkhani too follows suit, exuding a realistic portrayal that aligns with the immersive, diary-like feel of the film. Hadjitarkhani's portrayal adds vitality to this slice-of-life portrayal of Zahedi's world.

Zahedi's innovative construct of this film almost gives it a form of 'life-streaming', way ahead of its time in social media terms. Audiences could argue that Zahedi predicts the contemporary wave of unfiltered lifestyle content that we would later see on social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.

These captured moments span a broad spectrum - from the humorous to the tragic, from the trivial to the monumental. Notably, Zahedi doesn't shy away from portraying even the uncomfortable parts of his story. Whether it's confrontations with friends, family squabbles, or the existential crises of being an artist and an individual, Zahedi's vulnerability resonates greatly with viewers.

In terms of cinematic techniques, Zahedi throws conventionality out of the window. The handheld camera contributes to the reality-TV authenticity of the film. Scenes teeter between structured narration and improvisation, creating a documentary-like feel. There's no imposing musical score and the dialogue is very natural, creating an environment where audiences feel like they are peeping into Zahedi's actual life.

"In the Bathtub of the World" is more than just a mere documentary. It's an exploration of the self through the lens of time, a journey through the highs and lows of the day-to-day, portrayed with utmost honesty by Zahedi himself. Given that the central theme of the film is a year in Zahedi's life, it does include some mature content, dealing with themes of drug use, sexuality, and mental health.

Thus, the movie transcends the conventional art of cinema, and instead becomes a fluid chronicle of memories, emotions, and experiences. It is certainly not for those seeking a traditional movie plot. Instead, this film is for those who revel in a more philosophical, observational approach to cinema.

To sum it up, "In the Bathtub of the World" is an intimate portrayal of human life in all its rawness. It's a movie that perhaps won't appeal to mainstream film-goers, but offers a unique delicacy for fans of avant-garde cinema or viewers seeking something unorthodox. It's a film that daringly exercises the idea that within our uneventful everyday lives, there lies inherent philosophical profundity waiting to be explored. This feature-length documentary style visual memoir celebrates the human journey in its own unique way - a testament to life, in all its mundane grandeur.