A Moment of Innocence is a film unlike any other. Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the movie is a landmark film of the Iranian New Wave, blending autobiography, behind-the-scenes documentary, and poetry into a hopeful reflection on Iranian society, how our past actions shape us, and whether we can work for a better future.
The roots of the Iranian New Wave trace back to the late 1960s, but the movement arguably peaked in the 1990s, with filmmakers like Abbas Kiarostami and Mohsen Makhmalbaf blending reality and poetry in their metaphysical films. Their films often blurred the boundaries between fiction and documentary: the directors would often appear on screen, characters would speak directly to the camera, and the actors in the films would often play their past selves, re-enacting lightly fictionalized versions of real-life events.
A Moment of Innocence is a prime example of this unique cinematic language: the film follows celebrated director Mohsen Makhmalbaf as he seeks to recreate a violent encounter that he had with a policeman nearly twenty years earlier. Both Makhmalbaf and the policeman appear in the film, directing the young actors playing their younger selves. As the project unfolds and the lines of reality begin to blur, all involved begin to question their role, the meaning of the incident, and the ramifications for the future.
If this sounds like a metaphysical head trip, do not worry. Makhmalbaf directs the film with a light touch, and the movie overflows with an earnest sense of humanity and humor. While A Moment of Innocence has a wintery setting and intense subject matter, Makhmalbaf’s warm direction guides the film to end on a blessedly hopeful note. Almost thirty years later, this sense of optimism seems like an oasis in the desert, amidst the political turmoil and seemingly unavoidable cynicism of the world today.
A Moment of Innocence screened as part of the Leading Lights series at the Vancouver International Film Festival, a screening series where a celebrated Canadian filmmaker curates a selection of international films that influenced their artistic journey. This year’s guest programmer was Matthew Rankin, director of 2024’s Universal Language.
Iranian cinema is obviously a huge influence on Rankin: in Universal Language, he reimagines Winnipeg, Canada as an Iranian dreamscape, both on a surface aesthetic level (the entire movie is in Farsi) and in tone (the film’s warm atmosphere seems right out of a Kiarostami film). With their snowy settings, shared sense of humor, and humanist sincerity, Universal Language and A Moment of Innocence would make for a comforting double feature.
Thank goodness for festival retrospective screenings. They remind us, once again, that the films of the past cast a long shadow on the movies of today. I am sure that a metatextual filmmaker like Makhmalbaf would appreciate how his films continue to influence the next generation of directors around the globe.
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A Moment of Innocence (Farsi: نون و گلدون)—Iran. Dialog in Farsi. Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Running time 1 hour 20 min. First released August 13 1996. Starring Mirhadi Tayyebi, Ali Bakhshi, Ammar Tafti, Maryam Mohamadamini, Moharram Zeinalzadeh, Moshen Makhmalbaf.
This article is part of Cinema Escapist‘s dedicated coverage of the 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival.