Movies to See Mid-Fall

Following the high sale of most of the films screened across Iran in the first half of the Iranian calendar year (started March 20), a number of new movies on screen these days have also proved successful in attracting audiences to cinema halls.

The new movies come in various genres from social drama to politics and even comedies. Casting popular actors of different generations, the films appeal to a wide range of film enthusiasts.

‘Drought and Lie’ directed by Pedram Alizadeh leads the fall movies at the box-office. Based on a successful play written and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, the film has taken in over $430,000 in less than a month.

A drama about lies and doubts in two young families, it features Mohamadreza Golzar, Pegah Ahangarani, Ali Sarabi and Aida Keikhai in lead roles. A huge part of the film’s success is the performance of Golzar, a popular actor, who is back on screen after four years.

Another movie is ‘Cyanide’ by Behrouz Shaibi which has sold $185,000 in two weeks.

Shoaibi’s second feature film deals with a political theme. It narrates the romantic relationship between a couple which is affected by the incidents before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Mehdi Hashemi, Hanieh Tavasoli, Hamed Komeili, Pedram Sharifi, Babak Hamidian, Behnoush Tabatabaei and Atila Pesyani are in the cast.

‘It Happened at Midnight’ by Tina Pakravan has made $117,000 in two weeks.

Pakravan’s second feature film is a drama centering on unconventional love stories.

The cast includes Hameh Behdad, Roya Nonahali, Gohar Kheirandish, Atila Pesyani, Setareh Eskandari and Shaghayegh Farahani.

  Musical Fantasy Comedy

The only comedy among the current films on screen is ‘The Penniless’ by Arash Moayerian.

A musical fantasy comedy about a poor boy who turns rich by magic, it has earned $92,000 in a fortnight.

A group of known comedians play in the film including Mohamadreza Sharifinia, Mohamadreza Hedayati, Sahar Qoreishi, Hesam Navab-Safavi, Leila Bolukat, Bahareh Rahnama and Mehran Ghafourian.

‘This Woman Wants Her Right’ by Mohsen Tavakoli is another social drama that has taken in $46,000 in two weeks.

The story is about the four-year efforts of a woman who is a victim of an acid attack incident, and wants justice.

Laya Zangeneh, Mitra Hajar, Kamran Tafti, Roshanak Ajamian, Mina Jafarzadeh and Afsaneh Pakru are in the cast.

‘Born in 65’ is the first film of Majid Tavakoli which has made $26,000 in its first week of release.

It is a drama about a young boy and girl who decide to get rich through dangerous ways. Hengameh Hamidzadeh, Pedram Sharifi, Maryam Sa’adat and Ana Nemati have roles in the film.

Last week ‘Iranian Orphanage’ by Abolqasem Talebi was also screened. Not so well-received by the audiences so far, it has made $10,000 in one week.

Dealing with a historical-political issue, it is about the major famine and drought in Iran during the World War 1 when the country was occupied by the British and Russian forces.

The cast includes Aliram Nuraei, Jafar Dehqan, Farokh Nemati, Dariush Asadzadeh, Anushiravan Arjmand and Qotbodin Sadeqi.

The new films have hit cinemas with some older ones still on screen and doing well including ‘The Salesman’ by Asghar Farhadi.

During the first seven months, a total of 40 films have been shown across the country fetching $33 million, a record in Iranian cinema.