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For this Special Thursday Cinema Night, first up is Taste of Cherry (1997). A depressed Iranian man on the verge of suicide tries to find someone to bury him after he dies. He meets various people, and, in his adventures, he manages to find reason to live, and his newfound peers bring him back from the brink. A quiet movie, but generally considered a feel-good piece. Director is renowned auteur Abbas Kiarostami, whose Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987) and Close-Up (1990) we previously watched. Considered one of the best films of the 1990s and one of the best Iranian films of all time. Currently ranked #131 on the Letterboxd Top 250.

After that is Ballerina (2025), a spinoff of the John Wick series, this time focusing on a lady assassin played by Ana de Armas. During the events of John Wick 3, she is just starting her training to be a total badass so that she can avenge her father’s death. Expect a whole lot of martial arts and gunfights, with the series’ usually stylish flourishes. Director Len Wiseman is better-known for, uhh, Underworld (2003) and Live Free or Die Hard (2007). Good reviews for this, so let’s give it a whirl.

We’ll start at 8PM EST on Blorptube, right here:

https://blorp.bot.nu/o/visual_cuisine

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• Taste of Cherry: https://letterboxd.com/film/taste-of-cherry/
• Ballerina: https://letterboxd.com/film/ballerina-2025/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• Taste of Cherry: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/743001
• Ballerina: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/1510441

CWs for Taste of Cherry:

• Dead animal.
• Depression.
• Unconsciousness.
• Suicidal ideation.
• Drug use.

CWs for Ballerina:

• Gaslighting.
• Stalking.
• Child abuse.
• Bugs.
• Someone is physically restrained.
• Someone’s mouth is covered.
• Someone is burned alive.
• Stabbing.
• Choking.
• Eye mutilation.
• Dislocations.
• Blood and gore.
• Throat mutilation.
• Hand damage.
• Someone struggles to breathe.
• Unconsciousness.
• Broken bones.
• Someone falls down stairs.
• Death by falling.
• Cutting of flesh.
• Stabbing.
• Hanging.
• Death of parent.
• Kidnapping.
• Audio gore.
• Spitting.
• Needles.
• Hospital scene.
• Suicide attempt.
• PTSD.
• Claustrophobia.
• Sudden loud noises.
• Profanity.
• Flashing lights.
• Someone is watched without their knowledge.
• Someone is hit by a car.
• Car crash.
• Honking horns.
• Screeching tires.
• Blood and gore.
• Gun violence.

Links to movies:

• Taste of Cherry: https://tankie.tube/w/e3dWeUmdfM7eKwdgSqC6AG
• Ballerina: https://tankie.tube/w/uXYmVYUyDgmDobb7CaY4xm