“A Separation”, 2019
Director: Yalan Hu
Directed by Asghar Farhadi, this Oscar-winning drama illustrates the complexities of life in contemporary Iran, centered around an unraveling marriage and the moral quandaries faced by its characters.
Starring: Michelle Sun, Yao Zhen, Carlee Soeder;
Production year: 2019;
Genre: short film, drama;
Duration: 15 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,9;
More information about the film “A Separation” on the website imdb.com
“The Salesman”, 2016
Director: Shane Wallick
Another film by Asghar Farhadi, which won the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, depicts an Iranian couple whose relationship begins to turn sour after moving into a new apartment.
Starring: Christopher Dean, Tom Pace, Cherelle-Renée Childs, Laura Guyton, Andrea Polk, Kate Wallick, David Bruzek, Jason Klobassa, Shane Wallick, Tommy Andersen, Raven R. Miller, Sean Hagens, Doug Scribner;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: short film, comedy;
Duration: 8 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “The Salesman” on the website imdb.com
“Children of Heaven”, 2017
Director: Kishore Kumar Inapanuri
Directed by Majid Majidi, this family-friendly film tells the story of two siblings and their adventures after one loses the other's pair of shoes.
Starring: Kavitha Chari, Kishore Kumar Inapanuri, Masoud Tosifyan;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: short film, drama, family;
Rating: IMDB: 0;
More information about the film “Children of Heaven” on the website imdb.com
“Taxi”, 1998
Director: Gérard Pirès
Directed by Jafar Panahi, this film blurs the lines between documentary and fiction as the director himself drives a taxi and converses with the diverse passengers he picks up.
Starring: Samy Naceri, Frédéric Diefenthal, Marion Cotillard, Emma Wiklund, Bernard Farcy, Manuela Gourary, Edouard Montoute, Dan Herzberg, Georges Neri, Richard Sammel;
Production year: 1998;
Genre: action, comedy, crime;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 89 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
“Baran”, 2001
Director: Majid Majidi
Another Majid Majidi film, this romance-drama sheds light on the plight of Afghan refugees in Iran, focusing on a young man who falls in love with an Afghan worker.
Starring: Hossein Abedini, Zahra Bahrami, Mohammad Amir Naji, Hossein Mahjoub, Abbas Rahimi, Gholam Ali Bakhshi, Jafar Tawakoli, Yadollah Hedayati, Parviz Larijani, Mahmoud Behraznia;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 94 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Baran” on the website imdb.com
“The Stoning of Soraya M.”, 2008
Director: Cyrus Nowrasteh
Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, this controversial film tells the true story of an Iranian woman falsely accused of infidelity, leading to an extreme punishment.
Starring: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mozhan Marnò, James Caviezel, Navid Negahban, Ali Pourtash, David Diaan, Parviz Sayyad, Vida Ghahremani, Vachik Mangassarian, Bita Sheibani;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 116 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “The Stoning of Soraya M.” on the website imdb.com
“The Circle”, 2017
Director: James Ponsoldt
This film directed by Jafar Panahi, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, criticizes the treatment of women in Iran through interconnected stories of several females.
Starring: Emma Watson, Ellar Coltrane, Glenne Headly, Bill Paxton, Karen Gillan, Tom Hanks, Beck, Nate Corddry, Mamoudou Athie, Roger Joseph Manning Jr.;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: science fiction, thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,4;
These films offer a diverse look at life in Iran, from intimate personal stories to broader political narratives. They represent a fraction of the country's cinematic output, which continues to be a rich and complex tapestry reflective of its society.
In conclusion, the cinematic landscape of films about Iran offers viewers a rich, multifaceted tapestry of narratives that explore the nation's intricate culture, turbulent history, and the resilience of its people. These works, ranging from poignant dramas like “A Separation” to the hauntingly beautiful visuals of “The Color of Paradise,” provide a vital platform for Iranian voices, both from within the country and its diaspora. Directors such as Asghar Farhadi, Jafar Panahi, and Majid Majidi, among others, have adeptly navigated the complex interplay between individual struggles and broader societal issues, delivering films that resonate with audiences around the world. Through their captivating storytelling and deep humanity, films about Iran have not only contributed significantly to global cinema but have also allowed for an invaluable exchange of cultural understanding that transcends geopolitical borders.
