Directed by Panah Panahi, the son of one of my favorite Iranian film maker Jafar Panahi. This is one of the best film I watched in 2023. This is the kind of movie which makes you think about it long after watching it. Running through it all is a streak of sadness which lingers on even after the movie.
On the surface it's a perfect road trip movie but underlying is a deeply political statement.
In the movie a family is making a tense road trip through remote north-western Iran, heading for the Turkey border. The reason for the travel is not very clear in the beginning. Is it a fun trip ? Soon we realize from their talk it's not, they are worried about police following them.
The journey is to smuggle the elder son out of Iran to Turkey. Why are they doing it? What was his crime? Was he part of the student struggle happening in Iran ? Director Panahi leaves it to the audience.
Great child acting is rare, so is great directing of children, 8-year-old younger son played by Rayan Sarlak, gives an amazing performance.
On the surface it's a perfect road trip movie but underlying is a deeply political statement.
In the movie a family is making a tense road trip through remote north-western Iran, heading for the Turkey border. The reason for the travel is not very clear in the beginning. Is it a fun trip ? Soon we realize from their talk it's not, they are worried about police following them.
The journey is to smuggle the elder son out of Iran to Turkey. Why are they doing it? What was his crime? Was he part of the student struggle happening in Iran ? Director Panahi leaves it to the audience.
Great child acting is rare, so is great directing of children, 8-year-old younger son played by Rayan Sarlak, gives an amazing performance.