Why we picked it : Whatever you think of the political climate, Iranian cinema continually surprises with its creativity.

Synopsis – 70 year old Mahin gossips with her friends and passes the time. After a chance meeting with Faramarz, she decides to revive her love life and live a little. The chance meeting leads to an unforgettable evening for the two of them.

The film– As well as being a story of unlikely love at first sight, the film is quietly subversive. Mahin meets Faramarz alone in her own home with her hair uncovered. They dance and drink alcohol. We might think this unremarkable, but they are breaking all the taboos of the current Iranian regime. Mahsa Amini (“the hijab girl”) was arrested and died in custody while the film was being made and there is a sequence in the film that appears to be a deliberate response to that. The two directors were charged with spreading propaganda, vulgarity and encouraging prostitution and forbidden to leave the country. They have recently been released from house arrest. Here is an interview with the two directors. link

Directors and Writers: Martam Moghedam and Behtash Sanaecha Cinematography: Mohamad Hadadi Iran 2024

Links imdb Guardian review Time Out review

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