Mohammad Kashfi

A romantic drama that tells the story of dreams and ambitions for a generation of young Iranians who often find those things difficult to come by. In this unique take on a familiar theme, a young couple assume the role of a much wealthier couple in order to spend their days with Tehran’s nouveau riche. The adventure begins with playful games that take the audience on a comic ride but it ends in horror when the young couple find themselves locked up in an apartment, facing a case of mistaken identities. At once twisted, unpredictable, funny and thrilling, Tavakkoli’s film is a masterful, beautifully acted, cleverly composed exercise in building suspense.

Amir is eight years old. He has lost his father and lives with his mother in a hill far from their village. They have a small coal mine and are struggling to be completely independent. But, the owner of a big mine in that area is trying to take control of the whole mountain. Amir’s mother dies in the mine and the village’s council decides to bring Amir, who is living in the mountain all by himself now, back to the village. But he resists strongly against their decision since he wants to realize his mother’s intentions and wishes.

A young woman is murdered by her own father, with the help of her younger brother. She is secretly buried in the cellar, a space where the women of the family weave carpets and perform other domestic chores. Her loss, or perhaps her presence, continues to haunt the family as it reverberates through the following generations. Ayyari’s film is staged exclusively in this house and was banned several times in Iran.