NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS

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Transporting its audience into the illegal underworld of Terhran's "Western-influenced" music scene, director Mahman Ghobadi unmasks America's pervasive influence on Iran's youth via indie rock and rap music.

Flavors of jazz fusion also enter into the music, seen here through a would-be band trying to obtain exit visas.

The plan: travel to London to play a music festival gig, one that could enable a permanent escape from their oppressive homeland.

Ghobadi's casting of real-life musicians gives the film a docudrama element that is at turns fascinating, energized, and too precious for its own good.

The story is woefully under-plotted. Bandmates Negar Shangaghi and Ashkan Kooshenejad travel to various hideouts in order to practice, but spend way too much time complaining about the dangers of getting caught and finding the right number of back-up singers to get their exit visas approved.

The film works best when it shifts into music video mode, as during a rap group's song about surviving on Iran's impoverished streets. Western audiences will recognize Iran's plight of poverty and authoritarian abuses, as well as its ear for Western melodies and rhythms.

Though imperfect "No One Knows About Persian Cats" provides a welcome window into a rarely-discussed aspect of Iranian culture.

Political viewpoints are neatly woven into the dialogue and cruel circumstances of the story.

While not as strong as Ghobadi's previous film "Turtles Can Fly" (2004), "Persian Cats" is well worth seeing.

Not Rated. 106 mins.