Review: The Last Fiction

 

 

Overview:

King Jamshid, guided by the Divine Virtue, has successfully thwarted off the Ahriman and saved the city of Jamkard. 

Unfortunately, the king lost his way and found it in himself to search for the virtue once again. Leaving his most trusted ally, Mardas, in charge of the city, Jamshid never returns.

Additionally, the city falls into darkness when Mardas passes away and control passes to his son, Zahhak. Zahhak’s reign is a terrible one as he has been influenced by the Ahriman and has done terrible things to the city of Jamkard.

The people of Jamkard are lost until a prophecy claims a new hero for the city. Young Fereydun must first prove his worth if he hopes to lead an army to reclaim Jamkard and end Zahhak’s horrific reign.

 

Our Take:

The Last Fiction is the first full-length animated feature to come entirely from Iran. The film has made waves with an impressive tour through international film festivals and managing to score many awards along the way. While in Iran, the movie is celebrated spawning its own graphic novel and a mobile game.

Finally, this renowned international film has been released to a general public across North America thanks to Amazon Prime Video. It is time to see what the fuss is all about.

The story of The Last Fiction is based on classic Persian literature and folklore. The main focus of the film was to recount different perspectives on the legends of ancient Iran. Currently, The Last Fiction is being compared to large epics of modern entertainment like Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings.

There is no ignoring the ambitious nature of this film. The story spans an entire generation and covers multiple wars. If this tale were adapted in America it would have easily been turned into a trilogy. Though the Iranian producers put everything into this film and built something of epic scale.

That is not to say that there are many plots within the film that could have been expanded upon. King Jamshid was a central character and the movie constantly reminds us of that. However, his screen appearance is limited, as the movie mainly takes place after his disappearance. Additionally, characters such as Kave deserved much more screen time and left us wondering more about his backstory.

Despite the massive scale, The Last Fiction is surprisingly easy to follow. The ambitious cast is packed with unique and recognizable characters. And the story flows with the intention of not wasting a moment of vital plot points.

The animation is just as impressive. For a country that has never released a full-length animation before, the quality is as high as anything produced today. There was also a good use of multiple styles and techniques, from traditional animation to 3D. The film managed to show some originality as well, including battle scenes from a first-person perspective, and a creepy underworld feel for the villainous spirits.

This film establishes an Iranian style animation, blending American and Japanese styles while remaining unique. The level of detail to each scene is impressive. Whether it is a large-scale battle scene or shots from the halls of the castle, no detail is ignored, and it creates visual beauty.

It is no wonder that this feature has been recognized across the world. It features an ambitious story and is produced with the highest of quality. And the story is one that you would normally never find in America, focusing heavily on Persian legends. Not a white-washed Jake Gyllenhaal version either, but a cultural story developed by those who are closest to it.  

This is a major film that deserves the recognition that it has received. We should be excited for the next full-length animation to be coming out of Iran.