- published: 07 Aug 2015
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Close-Up (Persian: نمای نزدیک, Nema-ye Nazdik) (1990) is a film directed by Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, a docufiction. The film tells the story of the real-life trial of a man who impersonated film-maker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, conning a family into believing they would star in his new film. It features the people involved, acting as themselves. A film about human identity, it helped to increase recognition of Kiarostami in the West.
Hossain Sabzian, who is also a film lover and huge fan of popular Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf (director of Gabbeh and The Cyclist). Sabzian is riding the bus one day reading a copy of the novel The Cyclist when he meets Mrs. Ahankhah, a fan of the film. Sabzian tells her that he is Makhmalbaf, the author of the book and film. She's a bit surprised that a famous director is riding public transportation, but Sabzian explains that this is how he finds his subjects for film and that art must spring from life. Posing as Makhmalbaf, Sabzian visits the Ahankhah family several times over the next couple of weeks. He flatters them by saying he wants to use their house for his next film and their sons as his actors. He even obtains a substantial amount of money from them, ostensibly to prepare for the film. Mr. Ahankhah has his suspicions though, especially when a magazine photo shows a younger darker-haired Makhmalbaf. He invites an ambitious journalist friend (Hossain Farazmand) over, who confirms that Sabzian is indeed an impostor. The police come to arrest Sabzian, while Farazmand takes several pictures for his upcoming article: "Bogus Makhmalbaf Arrested." Kiarostami intersperses these scenes throughout the film, which does not progress chronologically. They are re-enactments.
"CLOSE-UP" is a dramatic feature film told through the eyes of a failed Philadelphia actor who has succumbed to drug addiction. Our story follows him during the Holidays as he desperately tries to regain everything he has lost in his life; his wife and child, his job, and his pride, before it's too late. Over the course of one day on New Years Eve in New York City, a young vibrant woman, Freebird, shows him how to stand up, discover himself and move on with his life.
Keywords: 1980s, actor, addiction, ambiguous-ending, audience, bar, blood, bloodbath, bloodbath, clothes
-peak Billboard position # 1 for 1 week in 1974-75
-Words and Music by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan
CHORUS
My eyes adored ya
Though I never laid a hand on you
My eyes adored ya
Like a million miles away from me you couldn't see how I adored ya
So close, so close and yet so far
Carried your books from school
Playin' "make-believe you're married to me"
You were fifth-grade, I was sixth
When we came to be
Walkin' home every day over Barnegat Bridge and Bay
Till we grew into the me and you
Went our separate ways
CHORUS
Headed for city lights
Climbed the ladder up to fortune and fame
I worked my fingers to the bone
Made myself a name
Funny I seemed to find
That no matter how the years unwind
Still I reminisce 'bout the girl I miss
And the love I left behind
CHORUS
(My eyes adored ya)
All my life I will remember
(Though I never laid a hand on you)
How warm and tender we were way back then, whoa, whoa, baby
(Like a million miles away from me you couldn't see how I adored ya)
Oh, the feeling, sad regrets
(So close, so close and yet so far)
I know I won't ever forget ya, my childhood friend
(My eyes adored ya)
(Though I never laid a hand on you)
(My eyes adored ya)
(Like a million miles away from me you couldn't see how I adored ya)
FADE
So close, so close and yet so far