Review: The Steak (Canada, Iran) by Kiarash Dadgar 'a simple, expertly-crafted indictment of war’s impact on innocent lives'

As a steak sits on the stovetop, a mother (Faranak Khamis) pulls a cake out of the oven. She’s preparing for a birthday party. Suddenly, she begins to gaze out the window in horror, before quickly ushering her daughter (Amin Simiar) inside. Filmed in a single take, the film captures the destruction of joyous, domestic tranquility in an instant. The filmmaker is acutely aware of the power of perspective, letting the audience see only what he wants them to. The camera sits still for six minutes, like a horrified viewer who can’t look away, before finally unveiling the scope of the devastation. The sound design also ramps up the tension, with the audience hearing the situation escalate outside, even before seeing it. The Steak is a simple, expertly-crafted indictment of war’s impact on innocent lives, and a film that’s best viewed knowing as little as possible going in.

Review by Shane McKevitt for Venice Film Week