65
Metascore
5 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75New York Daily NewsJami BernardNew York Daily NewsJami BernardA no-frills, homespun documentary that gives so much more than its humble technical credits would suggest.
- 75New York PostJonathan ForemanNew York PostJonathan ForemanI was pleased by the forthright defense in Friendly Persuasion of Iranian cinema's use of children.
- 70The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenAn inspiring demonstration of that old saw about necessity being the mother of (in this case, artistic) invention.
- 60TV Guide MagazineKen FoxTV Guide MagazineKen FoxThe filmmakers don't shy away from discussing their frustrations with censorship or the depiction of women, but their work raises interesting questions about the ways in which restrictions can sometimes facilitate artistry and lead to a deeper consideration of the film's subject.
- 60Village VoiceMichael AtkinsonVillage VoiceMichael AtkinsonThe doc is also fat with film clips from before and after the 1979 revolution, but innocent of sensationalism as they are, Iranian films aren't terribly quotable—except when used to illustrate how filmmakers must choreograph their action so that men and women never touch on-screen.