THE CYCLE (DAYEREH MINA)
Iran, 1974/1978, 101 minutes, Colour.
Saeed Kangarani, Esmail Mohammadi.
Directed by Dariush Mehrjui.
The Cycle is considered one of the best films of Dariusch Mehrjui who began his career in the 1960s and was continuing to make films into the 21st century.
Trained at UCLA, he returned to Iran and was one of the contributors to the fine standing of Iranian films in the 1970s.
This film was based on research into Mafia-like corruption for the getting of blood for hospitals, no scruples, clients from all walks of life but especially those who were poor and destitute, even drug addicts. For this reason, the film was banned for three years, completed in 1974, released in 1978 just prior to the Iranian revolution. The Medical Board of Iran considered it as an attack on hospitals and administrations (which it is).
The film is well shot, use of light and darkness, use of exteriors like the roads and the countryside as well as interiors, especially the corridors and basements of hospitals.
The film focuses on a cranky old man who is very ill, brought into the city by his eighteen-year-old son. The son has some care for his father but is also careless. When they don't find any help at the hospitals, they are rounded up amongst those who are to give blood. The son gives more blood than expected and is pleased with the money. He sees a nurse (putting on stockings, rather risqué for Iranian films – and unthinkable after the revolution). She helps the old man with food, gets the son odd jobs as well as flirting with him. What the son learns is that there is money to be made, power to be exercised in the racket for blood. He gets involved in a lot of odd jobs, even finally confronting the boss who admires his talent. He goes to his father’s funeral and is attacked by a colleague from the hospital – and the final image of the film is the face of this young man. But presumably he will go back to his rackets.
The film also has some social comment about doctors and nurses, their lackadaisical attitude towards their work and to the patients. One of the doctors, however, is very enthusiastic about setting up a proper laboratory for the donation of healthy and clean blood – but is stymied by the bureaucracy, and becomes a target of the gangsters.
1. The film as a classic, the work of the director over many decades, 1970s Iran, the social issues?
2. A pre-revolutionary film, life in Tehran, the social chaos and corruption, the poor management of hospitals? The presentation of women, clothes and hair? The presentation of relationships and more overt sexuality than in later decades?
3. The city of Tehran in the 70s, the buildings and the streets, hospitals, slums? The musical score?
4. The title, the cycle of blood and health and sickness leading to death? The cycle of corruption?
5. Ali and his father coming to the city, the opening with the boys pushing their tyres and bumping them, the father being sick, weary, their getting to the city, the father’s needs, the interplay between the father and son, the over-demanding and abusive father, Ali and his care for his father – but also careless?
6. Meeting the men and the destitute and the homeless, the alcoholic and the drug addicts? The father and the car, the blood agent, talk about money, the promise, the two being taken with the group for blood donations, in the truck?
7. The centre for giving blood, the doctor and his administration, the staff, the lack of equipment, the range of clients, the agents and their deals, getting the numbers? The father, scrawny, unable to give blood? Ali giving two bottles, pleased with himself, his observing what was going on, the money?
8. The old man being given a note to go to the hospital, going to the doctors, their being busy, delays in appointments? His desperation? Yet the old man always praying and wishing well to people (except his son)? The nurse, her kindness, Ali watching her with the stockings, the relationship, taking the old man outside, getting him food, his gobbling it down? The old man staying, his demands on his son, wanting hot tea, waiting, the samovar and the tea shop? The pathos and quietness of his death?
9. Ali and the nurse, the stockings incident, flirting, the nurse and her kindness to Ali’s father? Taking him to the doctors? Getting the job? the kiss, the relationship? The odd jobs man, Ali driving with him, the man thinking he was being spied on, the chickens, the boss, the disposal of the chickens, issues about prices, buying the eggs? Complaints about the quantity for the hospital? Ali and the various jobs, selling old rice at the market? Being involved in the rackets? His being efficient, his getting clients, the boss and his confronting him, talking of the plans, especially against the doctor with the laboratory? The episode with getting the A Negative blood, doing the transfers in the car, his being successful? Resented and bashed by the rivals? His plans, getting more clients, not going on a salary, control? His becoming a thug?
10. His father’s funeral, the friend supervising the funeral, Ali being late, his friend attacking him and telling him off? The final focus on Ali’s face? His future? Return to the world of corruption?
11. The presentation of the hospitals, busy, the doctors, idle, careless, the earnest doctor and his plea for the laboratory? Diagnosis of the woman with the bad transfusion, jaundice, death? His frustration? The sequence of the meeting, the doctors and nurses, shouting over each other? Visiting the secretary in his office, the frustrations with bureaucracy and hold-ups?
12. The nurses, some kind, some not, idle, preening themselves? The critique of the nurses?
13. The chaos in the hospital system? The exploitation by the entrepreneurs?
14. Doctor Sameri, his luxury, home, his phone calls, attacking the doctor and his laboratory, conferring with Ali, the plans?
15. The end of the film – Ali’s face? The future, the cycle continuing?
16. The banning of the film? Its insight? Social critique? Showing how films could offer social critique?
