Manuscripts Don't Burn

Manuscripts Don't Burn is a riveting Iranian movie that first graced our screens in 2013. The movie has been helmed by Mohammad Rasoulof and stars a plethora of Iranian actors who chose to remain anonymous due to the contentious nature of the film. This only adds to the intriguing aura of the film. They were joined by M. Ali Nazarian, one of the few daring to be publicly credited. Despite the veiled cast, their performances are powerfully resonating, kindling a unique, poignant realism throughout the runtime of the movie.

Predominantly a political drama, Manuscripts Don't Burn explores themes of identity, ideology, and inner conflict. It is framed around the dark historical events in Iran during the 1990s, specifically revolving around the infamous plot to assassinate over twenty Iranian writers and intellectuals via a chain murders, an operation suspected to be orchestrated by the Iranian government. However, instead of deciphering the politics and the ‘why’ behind the event, the narrative is focused on individuals entwined in these precedents. It delves deep into their psychological perspectives, the moral quandaries they face, and the relentless struggles for survival under an oppressive regime.

The film puts into perspective the everyday lives of these characters and their struggles to protect their works, ideals, and ultimately, their lives as they live under the profound shadow of an impending threat. It also explores the roles of paid assassins who carry out these gruesome orders, painting an intricate and chilling image of the stark division that exists within the society.

In the two key parallel narratives that form the core of 'Manuscripts Don't Burn,' the viewers are introduced into the lives of Khosrow and Morteza, two low-rung government workers, who function as assassins for the regime. They are portrayed as seemingly ordinary individuals burdened with their own problems - a stark contrast to the horrific duties they carry out. Concurrently, we are engaged in the plight of Kasra, a dissident intellectual, striving against the clock to clandestinely safeguard his life's work and revelations about the government.

The title 'Manuscripts Don't Burn,' a clever nod to a line in Mikhail Bulgakov's 'Master and Margarita,' aptly signifies the film's central theme – the endurance of ideas and intellectual property despite external efforts to obliterate them. It's an embodiment of struggle and sacrifice for the sake of upholding intellectual freedom against unyielding oppression and censorship.

Despite being a politically charged narrative, the movie is presented through a hugely personal lens. It paints a harrowing picture of a dehumanizing totalitarian regime that controls not just people's actions but their thoughts too. Yet, the individuals caught in this web bear witness to courage and resilience, bravely dissenting against the regime's monolithic authority. The script is well-crafted and worships realism, expunging the grit in the name of hard-hitting, unsettling honesty.

The direction by Mohammad Rasoulof is commendable, with his pioneering efforts to make such a film despite the threat of suppression and censorship. It demonstrates the distinct sense of fear and tension within a stifling Iranian society where even breathing a word against the regime becomes a possible death sentence.

The cinematography is also compelling, aesthetically marrying the grim narrative with an equally tense visual representation. The use of sound design is minimalistic, casting an eerie silencing effect that exactly captures the hushed tension that simmers beneath the movie’s narrative arcs.

In conclusion, 'Manuscripts Don't Burn' takes you on an uncompromising journey through the arduous lives of dissidents and the perpetrators of an oppressive regime, blurring distinctions between good and evil and questioning the cost of silence in a society controlled by fear. This film stands as an indomitable testament to the power of ideas and the collective spirit that prevails against all odds and serves as a stark reminder of the very real threats faced by intellectuals across Iran and other similar oppressive regimes. It's a daring, chilling portrayal of a society plagued by paranoia and repression, a must-watch for those interested in digging deep into the societal realities outside their individual purview.