Alex Winter Praises Films by Kiarostami and Panahi
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, British actor and director Alex Winter—best known for the Bill & Ted franchise—praised the works of Abbas Kiarostami and Jafar Panahi during a recent visit to the Criterion Collection, while also referring to Luis Buñuel as a “great master of cinema.”
Winter began by selecting Kiarostami’s Koker Trilogy, which includes Where Is the Friend’s House?, And Life Goes On, and Through the Olive Trees. ” Where Is the Friend’s House? is my absolute favorite from Kiarostami’s filmography, but I also love Through the Olive Trees. He has made many other incredible films, don’t get me wrong,” he remarked.
He then turned his attention to Jafar Panahi, describing him as the “greatest living filmmaker in the world.” Regarding Panahi’s No Bears, Winter stated: “I know it sounds hyperbolic, but I’m a filmmaker and hyperbole is part of the job. If you haven’t seen this film, please watch it. It is one of the best films of this century.”
Continuing his tour through the collection, Winter discussed the influence of Ugetsu‘s cinematography on his own work and lauded Barbara Kopple’s documentary Harlan County USA. “In my opinion, it expresses the struggles of directors everywhere, but it also demonstrates how documentaries can speak about society while remaining works of art,” he noted.
Finally, Winter picked up the film Él to discuss Buñuel: “He encapsulates surrealism, humor, the barbarism of society, and the beauty of society. He is our Dostoevsky.”
