Black Tape  (2002)

Theatrical Release Information:
Black Tape

Black Tape: A Tehran Diary - The Videotape Fariborz Kamkari Found in the Garbage presents itself, as the title suggests, as a found object. The tape begins at a store, where the video camera is sold, first to the storeowner, and then to Parviz (Parviz Moasesi), a benignly officious-seeming middle-aged man. Parviz uses the camera to record the birthday party of his pretty 18-year-old girlfriend, Goli (Shilan Rahmani). Goli seems rather sullen and standoffish and doesn't join in the festivities until Parviz coaxes her. Then she breaks up the party by rudely mocking a guest who gets sick. Eventually, we learn through the tape that Goli is Kurdish and the daughter of a now elderly Kurdish freedom fighter. She's essentially been sold to Parviz as a slave. Parviz is a former Iranian military officer who makes Goli believe that he'll watch out for her father and her younger sister, both refugees in Iran, if Goli will satisfy his perverse sexual needs and bear his child. Goli lives a life of relative luxury, but she's a prisoner. When Parviz fails to follow through on his promises and demonstrates his contempt for the young woman, she begins to plot her escape. Black Tape is Kurdish writer/director Fariborz Kamkari's first feature. It was shown at New Directors/New Films in 2003. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide