Chicago Sun-Times
Reviewed By: Bill Stamets

Tunisian writer-director Nacer Khemir delights with tales and travelers. Blind and wise Bab’Aziz (Parviz Shahinkhou) and his granddaughter Ishtar (Maryam Hamid) cross breathtaking deserts in search of a legendary gathering of dervishes. Themes of illusory identity — and a totemic gazelle — unite a tapestry of tales.

Bab’Aziz tells Ishtar about a handsome prince who long, long ago peered into a pool to contemplate his soul. Another traveler is Osman (Mohamed Grayaa). He tells of once diving into a well in pursuit of a woman. He found himself inside a marvelous palace. Zaid (Nessim Kahloul) tells of Nour (Golshifteh Farahani), a woman who cut her hair and stole his clothes and passport so she could travel freely.

Each story and storyteller nestles in Khemir’s quest-style narrative. Shot in Iran and Tunisia, the film has a timeless setting. The subtext, though, is very timely for this Switzerland, Hungary, France, Germany, Iran, Tunisia and United Kingdom co-production.

In his press notes, Khemir states his intent of “showing an open, tolerant and friendly Islamic culture, full of love and wisdom, an Islam that is different from the one depicted by the media in the aftermath of 9/11. This movie is a modest effort to give Islam its real image back, based on the joyful and love-giving Sufi tradition.” Islam has a place for song, verse and dance. Khemir celebrates a mystical ethos lost among the militancy reported in international news.