The Salesman: Review/Film Poem (article) by Betty Jo Tucker on AuthorsDen

Revenge – Sweet or Sour?

Writer/director Asghar Farhadi borrows “Death of a Salesman” to serve as an intriguing backdrop to THE SALESMAN, the story of a troubled husband and wife who have key acting roles in a Tehran amateur theater production of Arthur Miller’s famous play. The “trouble” involves a brutal attack on the wife and the husband’s obsession with revenge.

Shahab Hussein (A Separation) and Taraneh Alidoosti (About Elly) deliver mesmerizing performances in this riveting movie. As Emad, the husband, Hussein reminds me of James Stewart in Vertigo. Like Stewart’s character in that classic Hitchcock thriller, Emad is consumed by obsession; his whole spirit appears infected. And like Vertigo, The Salesman also reveals the dangers of such extreme behavior. Alidoosti (About Elly) portrays Rana, the wronged wife, with a depth of feeling that evokes our empathy in all of her scenes. Both Hussein and Alidoosti put their expressive eyes to excellent use throughout this terrific motion picture.

Why “Death of a Salesman,” you ask? I think it’s because Willy Loman, the character Emad plays in the live production, brings out Emad’s feelings of inadequacy. And the play gives viewers an opportunity to watch changes in Emad and Rana as they get into their costumes and makeup for each performance.

Revenge is sweet some people say.

But sometimes that is not the way.

THE SALESMAN takes a closer look

at vengeance and how it should cook.

A married woman gets attacked.

Then her husband goes way off track.

A fuss the wife just cannot bear.

The thing she wants is hubby’s care.

Hurting the man who did this deed

becomes the husband’s greatest need.

Who will be harmed when all is done?

Revenge can take down more than one.

All actors get inside their parts

by reaching down into their hearts.

Using an Arthur Miller play

as backdrop works, I have to say!

NOTE: The Salesman does not include any background music. Although I can’t recommend that for every film, it was the right decision for this one. It makes everything happening on screen seem more real.

Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth that ever was cooked in hell. – Walter Scott.

The same one who mistreated you will be the one needing you. So don’t hesitate. Because that will be the best positive revenge. --- Manasa Rao Saarloos

(Released by Cohen Media Group and rated “PG-13” for mature thematic elements and a brief bloody image. The Salesman earned an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.)

Review also posted at ReelTalk Movie Reviews.

Web Site: ReelTalk Movie Reviews

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Reviewed on March 5, 2017

I've always liked foreign films. In this one is quite intriguing to me for two reasons: first, the subject is that classic play, Death of a Salesman, and second, it is set in modern day Iran, a place that seems to evoke hatred in most Americans. I have known several Iranians going back to when some were my students in 1975. It is really too bad that religious oppression as change that country, but not brought its citizens down to the level of its religious expectations.

Ron