The Heart Wants It Itself
The Heart Wants It Itself

Movie spotlight

The Heart Wants It Itself

1973
Movie
116 min
Persian

Firouzeh and her friend Dekhi work in the Shofar Cafe. Firouzeh is interested in a ignorant man named Javad who is in debt to the cafe owner. But, Firouzeh sees she has options when she gets to know Abram, the driver of the famous rich Shahriar Shahriari. Shahriari, who is the managing director of a large company, hates women and spends all his time working. In the cafe, it is rumored that Shahriari is interested in Firouzeh, and Abram informs the newspapers that Firouzeh is Shahriari's wife candidate.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes70%
Metacritic62/100
Google Users75%
Director: Stanley KramerGenres: Drama, Comedy

Plot Summary

A somewhat reclusive and eccentric millionaire, who prefers the company of his pet chimpanzee over people, plans his own funeral. He enlists the help of a funeral director and a television evangelist to stage a spectacular, albeit unusual, send-off. Complications arise when his estranged daughter unexpectedly returns, forcing him to confront his past and re-evaluate his life choices.

Critical Reception

The film received a mixed to positive reception, with critics praising its unique premise and the performances of its lead actors, particularly Burt Reynolds. However, some found the tonal shifts between comedy and drama to be uneven, and the satirical elements occasionally fell flat.

What Reviewers Say

  • Burt Reynolds delivers a charming performance as a man contemplating his own demise.

  • The film's unconventional humor and poignant moments offer a thought-provoking, if sometimes uneven, experience.

  • Candice Bergen and Dom DeLuise provide strong support in this offbeat comedy-drama.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's quirky sense of humor and the performances, finding it a unique and entertaining watch. Some viewers noted that the story could be a bit slow-paced in parts.

Fun Fact

The chimpanzee who played the millionaire's pet was named 'Cheeta', a nod to the famous chimpanzee from the Tarzan films, though it was a different animal.

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