i've been watching the film "bab'aziz". i came across it entirely by chance. of course! directed by nacer khemir, the film follows a blind dervish named bab'aziz as he wanders the desert in the company of his granddaughter ishtar. you could say that they are searching but in fact they are wandering full in the knowledge that, guided solely by their faith they will arrive at a grand reunion of dervishes that takes place once every thirty years. they have no map. there is no set location for this grand meeting. they will simply arrive as will all the other dervishes.
as with most little children, ishtar needs and asks for more than is there in the empty desert. and so, to entertain her, bab'aziz tells a story - an ancient story - of a prince who gives up his worldly life in order to sit by a small pool in the desert. the prince stares into the depths of the pool while contemplating his soul.
as this story gradually unfolds, bab'aziz and ishtar meet others who are also on their way to the great gathering. each has their own story. the film quickly takes on many layers and threads with each new story.
filmed in the deserts of tunisia and iran, this is a film of incredible visual and sonic beauty. filled with metaphor and windows into the soul, it is as much a story of faith as it is an opportunity for the viewer to hover in that space between where they are and where they might wish to be.
here's a bit of a trailer for the film . . .
probably my favourite musical moment and some extraordinary film-making . . . put your headphones on if you've got them . . . .
