The Wasteland

Bahrami's approach is deceptively simple, drawing us in with its easy rhythms and repetitions as the more complex picture of emotions, workplace exploitation and community tensions begins to be revealed.

What we ultimately get is esoteric imagery and stiff posturing swaying between pretentiousness and self-seriousness without offering anything illuminating or substantial at the end.

"The Wasteland" has some moments that could be described as "too art-house" but Ahmad Bahrami's cinematic eloquence is quite visible throughout the movie, by an artist who is bound to have an impact in the future.

Unfortunately, while ambitious, the film feels too much like a stiff piece of auteur art-cinema to fully throttle into an enticing narrative.