The Cinematheque

The tale of an aging novelist who can no longer hear his muse—but starts hearing music—this comedy-drama from veteran Iranian filmmaker and former Vancouverite Bahman Farmanara (Smell of Camphor, Scent of Jasmine) was denied release in Iran for four years before finally debuting earlier this year (with the word ​“Dance” excised from its Farsi-language title). ​“The dancing spirit is contagious in this infectious Iranian comedy … I Want to Dance follows Mr. Farzaneh (Reza Kianian), who is grappling with writer’s block when he’s involved in an accident that fills his head with Persian dance music. Under the incessant spell of the rhythm, Mr. Farzaneh finds himself consumed by the irrepressible desire to dance. His family thinks that he’s gone mad” (Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne).