I just watched Blue Heron tonight. What a great movie; I cannot recommend it enough. I've seen people comparing it to Abbas Kiarostami, and I'd have to assume they're referring to Close Up. I understand the connection, but Blue Heron definitely feels like its own thing. It doesn't quite feel meta and reflexive in the same way.

But that got me thinking: has there ever been a movie that successfully pulls off the same thing as Close Up. It feels so singular and impossible to emulate. Like I can say Blue Heron is doing something quite similar to what Aftersun or La Ciénaga or Chantal Akerman did. But I'm struggling to do the reverse with Close Up. I'm curious your thoughts.