This multiple award-winner deserves to be seen widely. 

The involving story of a family and their disparate concerns during the protests of 2022 in Tehran skilfully holds up a mirror to the real-life harsh Iranian state control over its people,  ironically in the name of “protection”.  

The ambitious father is awarded a promotion to inspector, but quickly discovers that the power it gives him is being used to rubber stamp sentences he feels uncomfortable to be associated with. However, the role puts him on the prestigious pathway to his ultimate goal: eventually to become a judge in the State Courts. Meanwhile his two daughters, feeling helpless whilst watching events unravel on the streets through footage on their mobile phones, want to support their friends. Their mother is caught between these two polar-opposite positions. 

When the Iranian authorities found out that director Rasoulof’s new film was competing for distinguished awards at Cannes Film Festival, they interrogated him and members of the cast and crew, precipitating their swift escape into exile just in time to avoid lengthy prison sentences and further egregious punishment. 

Luckily, this gripping film was smuggled out of the country. Here’s your chance to see it.

Iran 2024 I Dir: Mohammad Rasoulof

Cast: Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki, Niousha Akhshi, Missagh Zareh 

Language: Farsi (subtitled)