The earliest and by far the worst feature by Mohsen Makhmalbaf that I’ve seen (1984)though it’s a long way from the least interesting and, as far as I’m aware, the only one in ‘Scope. A muddled religious and metaphysical parable about the temptations of evil as played out among five men on a remote island, it has little plot or drama, but its sincerity is never in doubt. Not previously screened outside of Iran, it was recently recut by the director and subtitled. Two of the lead actors, Majid Majidi and Mohammad Kasebi, are also featured in Boycott, Makhmalbaf’s subsequent film (see separate listing). (JR)