TABNAK- Informed sources from Italy have introduced 6.5 per meter (Persian: متری شش و نیم) as a serious pick for 76th Venice Film Festival.
If it was so, it would be an unprecedented decision. Top tier film festivals refuse to screen the movies that have screened in other festivals yet alone a movie that has been released to the public. They want the movie to premiere in the festival, it’s what gives the festivals their credit.
Now Venice Film Festival may have an Iranian guest this year: 6.5 per meter directed by Saeed Roustayi. 6.5 Per meter was successful in box office and it even has a succesful black market sale in streets of Tehran but tragically - not unlike its story - couldn't participate in any prominent festival. This movie that is considered a popular movie has an acceptable framework but compared to Roustayi's first movie, Life and a Day has a overall weaker constraction. which may indicate a disappointing perspective for the young director.
If Venice Film Festival chose to screen this movie, 6.5 per meter will be the first movie ever that gets to participate in a major film festival after being released to the public on a large scale.
Jamal Sadatian receiving the award from Seyyed Abbas Salehi Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister in Fajr film festival
This may be due to the subject of this movie, even though 6.5 per meter won awards in Fajr Film Festival, which is government-funded, and enjoyed a trouble-free and wide release. But to those who are not familiar with Iran's society, they may perceive 6.5 per meter as an Anti-execution movie that is criticizing prison conditions or Iran's legal system. Which is not exactly true, Director stands with the police, even thou it shows the execution scene through polices eyes (Payman Maādi) who can't wait for the execution to happen.
Whether Venetians were not aware of the movies earlier release to the public or mistook it for an opposition movie like those by Panahi or Rasoulof. The news about the possibility of screening 6.5 per meter will open the way for Iranian cinema community to react and if the news were to be true Venetians can make a more informed decision, either way, we will see the result very soon since the Venice Film Festival is not far away.
