The film's great achievement is in its ability to humanize the lepers, illustrating the beauty of humanity through "ugly" people. The rhythmic editing immerses the viewer in this milieu, while the poetry and the readings of the lepers emphasize the transcendent object of both the lepers' questions and their praise. That these have a community and the doctors can treat their disease offers hope, even as they deal with the stigma of disfigurement the rest of their lives. Utterly compelling.

This isn't a documentary that gives you facts. Instead it impacts you in a more visual way. The images are depressing and affective, and the movie is very poetic. It can depress you but it also offers hope, as these people do have a community while they're getting treated, so the film does show some light. Very accomplished piece of cinema, it makes me say things like "very accomplished piece of cinema," which I'd never say otherwise.

Unflinching but never manipulative. Mesmerizing stuff.

I must admit that up until half an hour ago I knew basically nothing about leprosy. I still don't, really, but at least now I've had a look at the Wikipedia article, and also I've watched this horribly depressing 20 minute film about lepers in Iran. The narration contains many references to God and religion, and it seems like it may have a bit of a "Problem of evil" angle to it. In any case it was very poetic, and the images of the lepers were completely harrowing.

"A deceptively simple film." - Eric Henderson

We get a good solid unflinching look at the daily lives of these poor wretches, woven together by spoken prayers to God (who as usual doesn't answer the phone). "O Lord thank you thank you thank you for having completely kicked our asses". The general atmosphere of hopelessness and life-that-is-grotesque-parody-of-life is spot on. I once knew a woman who was crippled by a stroke and then abandoned by everyone; in fact, one of these lepers even looks like her

This film emits life in a way I've never seen before: it has a rhythm and tone suggesting lived life and expressing great curiousity... Staggering.

A brilliant piece of film, so sad.

Filled with images so powerful, they'll be emblazoned on your soul for days. Required viewing for anyone who thinks their life sucks.

A truly profound piece of cinema, a feat which only a few will ever reach. It will, and should, leave an impression.

cüzzam, lepra, sükür, dini motifler, siirsel, sinif, okul... çok çarpici... herkes izleyemez....

Intense and brilliant.

Honest, shocking and devastating.

If you're only ever going to see one movie about lepers, make it this one. It's a cinematic triumph, but can you tell it's the work of a poetess rather than a film director? The visuals and soundtrack (and editing thereof) combine into a work of great artistry, but it's very direct, and never feels formal. The voice-over merges informative narration with Farrokhzad's poetry, sprinkled with pieces of religious scripture, but it sounds compassionate, never pretentious.

The images are haunting and beautiful, but Farrokhzad's poetry is cringe-inducing in its pretentiousness. Is she actually comparing her personal feelings of isolation to that of a leper colony?

Accomplishes in 18 minutes what some directors spend their entire lives straining for.

Really depressing. Watching this makes me appreciate my own life so much more.

I admit I only got this because I wanted to see what real lepers looked like. Mission accomplished. It's a good short, though... a little slice of life at the leper colony.

The way in which this cinematic essay on leprosy combines the poetic with the concrete seems to emerge from a peculiarly Iranian capacity, this being a particularly clear and early example.

Possibly the best atheist movie. It's quite ironic that it's from Iran.

How do you live in the face of such overwhelming pain? An absolutely thoroughly depressing documentary. It's hard to "love" such a film, but the merit is obvious, and it's even poetic at times.

Well, it was superbly executed, but it's so grueling I'm not going to see it again in a hurry.

"Leprosy is not incurable...Leprosy is not incurable."

Less a documentary about an Iranian leper colony than a poetic montage of images, fitting since the director was a poet and did the editing for her film, one that is both a sad look at the condition these people lived with but also, as stated in the introduction, shows a lighter, joyful side to these people's lives, layered with a narration which talks about God, one which could be viewed in multiple ways (or all of them at the same time), creating a powerful work.

This film is an example of fantastic editing. The way the images are pieced together provides an innate rhythm that you don't normally get from such a movie, almost like the pictures are providing a structure for the poetry. Ultimately poignant and devastating.

Very sad film. Very though provoking. Beautiful shots and the beautiful poems of Forugh said in her voice were amazing.

Interesting and depressing, but only on reflection. Everything about it is just so matter of fact and direct that it doesn't really hit as hard as it could. It does have a very poetic aura because of the visuals and soundtrack.