One Paragraph Movie Review: The House Is Black

Two hundred and thirty-eighth film: The House Is Black, a 20-minute documentary showing quick-cut footage of an Iranian leper colony set to poetry, supporting my suspicion that most movies with titles starting with H are depressing as hell. All the reviews I’ve read of The House Is Black talk about its humanity and importance, giving us insight into how these wretchedly disfigured people go about their daily lives, with its self-proclaimed aim being to expose their suffering in order to prevent more of it. It still feels pretty voyeuristic and intrusive for the sake of shock value, but maybe I’ve just been worn to cynicism by all the other soul-darkening H movies. I’d almost watch a rom-com at this point. One and a half crowded school rooms out of five.