Through The Olive Trees- Abbas Kiarostami Better May 2026

Through the Olive Trees (1994) is the final chapter of Abbas Kiarostami’s Koker Trilogy

• Neorealist Influences: Kiarostami's work is often associated with the Neorealist movement, which emphasizes realistic portrayals of everyday life.
• Influence on Contemporary Cinema: "Through the Olive Trees" has influenced many filmmakers worldwide, including directors like Terrence Malick and Jean-Luc Godard.

This final shot is the key to Kiarostami’s entire universe. He refuses to be a god who closes the book. He is a humanist who opens a window. He understands that the most honest answer to the question of love, or life, or cinema is often: We cannot see clearly from here. The olive trees are in the way. The earthquake has thrown off our perspective. But we keep walking anyway. Through the olive trees- Abbas Kiarostami

Then comes the ending. It is perhaps one of the greatest single shots in cinema history. Through the Olive Trees (1994) is the final

Minimalism and Patience: The film is known for its contemplative pace and long, wide shots that allow the natural landscape—the lush green hills and vast olive groves—to become central characters. This final shot is the key to Kiarostami’s entire universe

Legacy

Through the Olive Trees influenced a generation of arthouse filmmakers, from the Dardenne brothers to Jia Zhangke. Its nested structure prefigured postmodern films like Synecdoche, New York, but its gentle, patient humanism remains unique. For Kiarostami, cinema was not about answers but about posing questions so precisely that the audience is compelled to finish them. As he once said, “A film with a message is a failed film. A good film leaves you thinking.”