Five

2004. France/Iran/Japan. Dedicated to Yasujiro Ozu, Five mines the potential of digital imagery and sound and investigates the fluid limits of documentary practice. Canny and sublime, the film is comprised of five long, apparently single takes of a beach on the Caspian Sea. The cast includes pedestrians on a boardwalk, dogs, ducks, a piece of driftwood, and moonlight reflected on stormy waters—a seemingly mundane procession in which Kiarostami observes a universe of change. No dialogue. 74 min.