THE TENANTS
Iran, 1986, 130 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Dariush Mehrjui.
The Tenants is, in the words of the director, theatre of the absurd.
Mehrjui continues his critique of social situations in Iran, so prominent in his classic film of 1974 (released 1978), The Cycle, the story of rackets for blood transfusions and supplies to hospitals in Tehran? This time his focus is on planning in the suburbs, buildings and regulations, frauds and double-dealings.
The film focuses on an apartment block which is collapsing, is subject to legislation for the owner of the building to develop it. However, the owners have died in a train crash, something which is concealed from the tenants. There are also rival estate agent companies, acting like thugs, perpetrating fraud.
The film shows the dilapidation of the apartment block, the characters who live there, comic style. The film also develops the plans of the different agents, the counter-plan of the tenants, the possible resolution.
Mehrjui spent some years in France during the early years of the revolution but returned to make films in his native country, including this one. In the succeeding twenty years he made a number of films in Iran.
Mehrjui’s films have won awards from OCIC and SIGNIS, including The Cow, Mama’s Guests, Beloved Sky.
1. The work of the director? His social critique? In the context of Tehran in the 1980s? The early years of the revolutionary government?
2. The outskirts of Tehran, the mountains in the background, the open land, the block, offices? The opening tracking shot of the city and the highways? The musical score – and the use of Handl’s Largo?
3. The film as theatre of the absurd, plot, characters, situations?
4. Issues of urban planning, the buildings, roads, shops? Transport? Homes? Documents, lawyers, estate agents, fraud?
5. The picture of the block, its situation, the alley, number 19? The interiors, the rooms? The different storeys? The collapse, the need for repair, water, the walls? The comic touches in the collapse?
6. The people in the block: the mother, aged, her fuss, cooking, the arguments? Her son who was manager of the block, his deceit, the other tenants, going to the office, his butcher’s shop? The meetings? His brother the architect, his studies, trying to repair the house, his wife and her nagging him about a position? The brother in the wheelchair and his anger? The fat man, the farcical aspects? The lawyer and his information to the group, his wife? The singer on the roof, the flowers and the water? The situation for each of the tenants, their rights? The accidents and the collapse? Discussions?
7. The argumentative nature of each of the characters, the loud arguments?
8. The estate agent and his cronies, his plans, the deaths of the owners, the issue of ownership, concealing the truth? The plans and documentation? No receipts? The rival agent? The attack on the building, the fight, the gangs, knives, the slashing, the pursuit in the car? The further fights?
9. The wealthy lady, her visit, going through the house, the roof, the singer, the flowers, her comments on the materials? Her plans?
10. The fat man, going to his office, the explosion? His urging the rival to criticise and do something with the other group?
11. The plans and the plot, the brother overhearing, bringing in the workers, the cheques and payment?
12. The decision to have the meal, everybody cooperating, getting the food, the preparations, from the butcher’s? Sitting down, singing? Unity?
13. The visit of the fake owner, signing documents?
14. The tenants using their wits, countersigning the cheques? The deal offered, rents, ownership, payments?
15. Audience response to the theatre of the absurd, the over-the-top characters and action? The critique of social corruption?
