BITTER DREAM

In the ancient town of Sedeh in central Iran is an 800-year-old cemetery that pre-dates the Arabs. Cocky and little kooky, old Mr. Esfandiar tends to the business of the cemetery by beating his workers and insulting the widow Delbar who washes the female corpses; he himself washes the male bodies. Esfandiar seeks immortality, and believes that washing bodies for 40 years may get him a leg up in that area. But the angel of death, Azrael, starts coming around and communicating through Esfandiar?s TV set. He beats Azrael off, and begins a quickie campaign to make things right with everyone. But not everyone can forgive and forget that easily. Besides, if Esfandiar dies, who will wash his body? A tragic-comic film by a young director, BITTER DREAM signals an opening up in Iranian cinema ? less reliance on symbolism and more on individual characters, their foibles and flaws.