Preview: This Is Not a Film (2012)

Synopsis:

Jafar Panahi, the jailed Iranian filmmaker forbidden from making movies for 20 years, finds a way to craft a documentary about his incarceration and the story he has rolling around in his head.

• Poster: C+

Review:

This rather simplistic poster will appeal to the demographic it needs to, though not on a very visceral level.

• Trailer: B

Review:

The trailer paints this film as being a rather oblique attempt by a censored filmmaker to escape the creative imprisonment forced upon him. Based on that simple statement, it sounds like a winner, but the trailer isn't quite as clever.

Oscar Prospects:

Iran will obviously not submit the film to the Academy, though producers could push it through the festival circuit and earn Panahi a Documentary Feature nomination. Then again, to protect Panahi from retribution in his home country, they might consider it "not a film" as the title suggests and keep it out of circulation.

Release Date:

• March 2, 2012

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (February 5, 2012) Original

-Wesley Lovell (February 26, 2012) New Release Date (changed from 2/29/12)