Cristobal Vila's Isfahan Movie

May 7, 2005 5:55 PM

An amazing piece of animation made all the better by its magical subject: the lovely architecture of Persia and its storybook capital for some 200 years, Isfahan. Cristobal Vila, principle of Eterea Studios, shares behind the scenes information... and you can even purchase a print from the movie, if you're so inclined. Be sure to check out his other works. Via Times & Seasons.
posted by silusGROK (15 comments total)

very nice--i could tell it was the snakes guy : >
posted by amberglow at 6:04 PM on May 7, 2005

Thanks, that was beautiful. My family left Isfahan a year before I was born and we've all wished we could go back for at least a visit. I think I may want to go more than anyone as I only have dreams of what it is like. Great film.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:21 PM on May 7, 2005

Anyone else watch that like you were trying to figure out a Prince of Persia level?
"There's water in the center! Wonder how I would get up on that ledge."
posted by rhapsodie at 6:28 PM on May 7, 2005

Nope.
posted by longsleeves at 6:33 PM on May 7, 2005

Pollomacho: I want to go to Iran, too... I have a few Iranian friends, and they all say that I would be well-treated. I just have to figure out if there'd be any passport problems, how to finance the bugger, and what to do about my notable inability to speak Farsi.

: )
posted by silusGROK at 7:50 PM on May 7, 2005

I would have sworn that I saw this posted here before, but I can't find it. Nevermind, good post regardless.
posted by juv3nal at 7:54 PM on May 7, 2005

Awesome.
posted by fungible at 8:21 PM on May 7, 2005

Very nice! Thanks!
posted by blendor at 8:55 PM on May 7, 2005

I visited with my family when I was 13, it was a cloudy day and very dark, unlike in the video, but still very beautiful, the video shows a room, and the whole palace it's much, much larger.

/end memory
posted by stratastar at 9:04 PM on May 7, 2005

i could tell it was the snakes guy

That was the first thing I thought of!
posted by dhruva at 9:45 PM on May 7, 2005

I was just in Isfahan last september, and let me assure you that it's probably even more beautiful in person than it is in that animated video. Here are some pictures I took (warning, gratuitous flickr self-link) while I was there.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 10:22 PM on May 7, 2005

Gorgeous!
posted by puddinghead at 10:27 PM on May 7, 2005

Very pretty, but I must admit I was hoping it would have more to do with the actual city of Isfahan, which I also want very much to visit. To others interested in the city, I highly recommend Isfahan Is Half the World: Memories of a Persian Boyhood by Sayyed Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh, a wonderful book about time, memory, and a beloved city.
posted by languagehat at 6:45 AM on May 8, 2005

That is wonderful. (And nice pics BuddhaInABucket)
More Pics of Esfahan (as Iran Chamber Society calls it) ---- pop-up screen link bottom left.
Thanks silusGROK.
posted by peacay at 8:28 AM on May 8, 2005

My father was a Christian minister in Isfahan, there are people that remember him and remember him as such. I could probably go back without too much problem (except for visa issues and language barriers) but the rest of my family would probably not be too well received. My dad recently wrote an article (which was actually very sympathetic to the Iranian perspective) about Middle East issues in a local, podunk paper and had a "message" left on the steps of his church, so I don't think the time is quite right for him.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:24 AM on May 8, 2005