Country: Iran

Direction Hana Makhmalbaf

Cast Nikbakht Noruz · Abdolali Hoseinali · Abbas Alijome

Synopsis Buddha Collapsed out of Shame (Buda az sharm foru rikht) (2007) unfolds in the shadow of a colossal Buddha statue, toppled by the Taliban, where numerous families reside. The narrative centers around Baktay, a resilient six-year-old Afghan girl, who is...

Direction Majid Majidi

Cast Hossein Abedini · Mohammad Kasebi · Parivash Nazarieh · Hassan Sadeghi

Synopsis The Father (1996) follows the journey of Mehrollah, a resilient 14-year-old boy who is compelled to take on the responsibility of providing for his family after the loss of his father. His quest for employment leads him to the southern...

Direction Bahram Beizai

Cast Adnan Afravian · Susan Taslimi · Parvis Pourhosseini · Akbar Doodkar

Synopsis Bashu, the Little Stranger (1990) follows the journey of a young boy who, amidst the chaos of the Iran-Iraq War, loses his home and family. Terrified and alone, he stows away on a departing truck, finding himself in the unfamiliar...

Direction Ali Asgari · Alireza Khatami

Cast Bahram Ark · Ali Asgari · Sadaf Asgari · Ardeshir Kazemi

Synopsis Terrestrial Verses (2023) delves into the lives of ordinary individuals from diverse backgrounds as they confront the cultural, religious, and institutional barriers set by different social authorities, ranging from educators to bureaucrats. This collection of compelling vignettes, which are both...

Direction Dariush Mehrjui

Cast Ezzatolah Entezami · Ali Nassirian · Jamshid Mashayekhi · Khosrow Shojazadeh

Direction Asghar Farhadi

Cast Amir Jadidi · Abolfazl Ebrahimi · Fereshteh Sadrorafaei · Nader Shahsavari

Synopsis A Hero (2021) follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi), an inmate who finds himself behind bars due to an unpaid debt. Granted a brief two-day furlough, Rahim endeavors to persuade his creditor (Mohsen Tanabandeh) to drop the charges in exchange for a...

Direction Abbas Kiarostami

Cast Mania Akbari · Amin Maher · Kamran Adl · Roya Arabshahi

Synopsis Ten (2002) presents a unique cinematic exploration through a series of ten dialogues between a woman behind the wheel and the diverse individuals she encounters along her journey. The film delves into the social dynamics and interactions that unfold during...

Direction Asghar Farhadi

Cast Shahab Hosseini · Taraneh Alidoosti · Babak Karimi · Mina Sadati

Synopsis The Salesman (2016) follows a young couple, played by Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti, who are forced to leave their luxurious but deteriorating apartment. A kind friend provides them with a new residence, but fails to mention its previous occupant's...

Direction Abbas Kiarostami

Cast Behzad Dourani · Noghre Asadi · Bahman Ghobadi · Shahpour Ghobadi

Synopsis The Wind Will Carry Us (1999) follows Behzad, a modern and somewhat disdainful city engineer, who travels to a remote village in Iran to await the impending death of an elderly relative. Throughout his stay, Behzad's interactions with the villagers...

Direction Jafar Panahi

Cast Jafar Panahi · Mina Kavani · Naser Hashemi · Vahid Mobasheri

Synopsis No Bears (2022) unfolds as a poignant drama that intertwines two distinct love narratives, each fraught with unseen, insurmountable barriers. The characters in these tales are hindered by the weight of superstition and the intricate workings of authority, creating a...

Direction Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Synopsis The Afghan Alphabet (2002) offers a poignant glimpse into the daily lives of children residing in Afghan villages near the Iranian border. The film explores the profound impact of the Taliban regime on their existence and cultural heritage.

Direction Samira Makhmalbaf

Cast Massumeh Naderi · Zahra Naderi · Ghorbanali Naderi · Zahra Saghrisaz

Synopsis The Apple (1998) follows the journey of two sisters who, after spending twelve years confined by their own parents, are finally liberated by social workers. The film delves into their initial encounters with the outside world, exploring the challenges and...

Direction Nima Javidi

Cast Peyman Moaadi · Negar Javaherian · Mani Haghighi · Shirin Yazdanbakhsh

Direction Jafar Panahi

Cast Aida Mohammadkhani · Mohsen Kalifi · Fereshteh Sadr Orafai · Anna Borkowska

Synopsis The White Balloon (1995) follows the story of Razieh, a young girl with a unique wish for the Iranian New Year's celebration. Unlike the slender goldfish in her family's pond, Razieh yearns for a plump one, as it appears to...

Direction Mohammad Rasoulof

Cast Ehsan Mirhosseini · Shaghayegh Shoorian · Kaveh Ahangar · Reza Bahrami

Synopsis There Is No Evil (2020) explores four interconnected narratives that delve into the profound themes of moral fortitude and capital punishment. The film poses a thought-provoking question: to what degree can personal liberty be exercised within an oppressive system and...

Direction Abbas Kiarostami

Cast Hassan Darabi · Masud Zandbegleh · Mostafa Tari · Hassan Arab

Synopsis The Traveller (1974) follows the journey of a young grade-school boy who, feeling overlooked by his parents, resorts to deceit, dishonesty, and petty theft to gather sufficient funds. His ultimate goal is to secure a bus ticket to a bustling...

Direction Abbas Kiarostami

Cast Homayoun Ershadi · Abdolrahman Bagueri · Safar Ali Moradi · Afshin Khorshid Bakhtiari

Synopsis Taste of Cherry (1997) follows an unnamed Iranian man who embarks on a journey in his vehicle, seeking an individual who will discreetly inter him beneath a cherry tree following his planned suicide. The film delves into themes of existential...

Direction Asghar Farhadi

Cast Hediyeh Tehrani · Taraneh Alidoosti · Hamid Farokhnezhad · Pantea Bahram

Synopsis Fireworks Wednesday (2006) follows Rouhi, a young woman on the brink of marriage, who takes a job as a maid for the contentious couple, Morteza and Mojdeh. This decision plunges her into a tumultuous world of middle-class turmoil and hidden...

Direction Jafar Panahi

Cast Fereshteh Sadr Orafai · Maryam Parvin Almani · Elham Saboktakin · Nargess Mamizadeh

Synopsis The Circle (2000) delves into the lives of several women as they navigate the challenges of living in a modern-day Iran, where societal norms and expectations are heavily influenced by a pervasive and oppressive sexism. The narrative explores their individual...

Direction Hossein Molayemi · Shirin Sohani

Synopsis In the Shadow of the Cypress (2023) follows the story of a former naval captain who, after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, retreats to a quiet life by the sea with his daughter. Their home, nestled near the shore, provides a...