The "Aesthetics of Reality" in Abbas’s Films

The French film theorist André Bazin introduced the concept of the "aesthetics of reality," which is reflected in a focus on direct realism, an emphasis on the authenticity of film segments, and the promotion of non-performative acting. The "aesthetics of reality" both summarized the creative approach of Italian Neorealism and influenced the subsequent development of the French New Wave, documentary cinema, and film production across different countries and regions. This theory opened new paths in both theoretical and practical realms. It also profoundly influenced Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami’s filmmaking. Abbas, through his unique poetic audiovisual language and philosophically rich narrative structure, offers a new interpretation of the concept of the "aesthetics of reality."