Tajikistan’s official Oscar submission is one of the most surprising films I’ve seen this year. Directed by Shahram Mokri, it’s a meta-mystery that blurs the line between fiction and reality until you lose track of what’s real and what’s performance. It starts slowly, but don’t be fooled — the longer it goes, the deeper it pulls you in. The film feels like a dream folding into itself, a claustrophobic experience that reminded me of Synecdoche, New York.
Many films have explored the idea of showing what happens behind the scenes of filmmaking, but this one goes far beyond that. Black Rabbit White Rabbit traps you in an endless spiral — a behind-the-scenes of a behind-the-scenes of a behind-the-scenes — until you’re completely lost. You no longer know which layer you’re watching, whether you’re still inside the film or back in reality. While watching, I felt genuine fear from deep inside.
It asks haunting questions: what if the act of filming itself is the story? What if every frame hides another camera, another lie, another truth? It runs for almost two and a half hours but never stops reinventing its own structure and logic.
For me, it’s a hypnotic and unsettling experience — one that demands patience but rewards it completely. I was struck by its courage, its mystery, and its constant play between illusion and meaning. It’s not an easy film, but it’s a must-watch. Few movies capture the chaos of creation and the madness of storytelling as powerfully as this one.
If life is fair, this should be shortlisted for an Oscar!
Dear Youssef,
Could you please share a link to watch it?I’m really interested.
Hi Sadegh, thanks for reading. I watched it on a private screener so I cannot share a link. It should be online soon though. Thank you.