“Strongly acted…quietly effective. A penetrating exploration of retribution versus forgiveness, blood money, sacrifice and the intricacies of Iran’s Islamic judicial system.” – Laura Kern, The New York Times

“A tender look at revenge, compassion and love. Excellent performances are given by all, with Taraneh Alidoosti, who has the face of an angel, once again a wonder.” – V.A. Musetto, New York Post

“Engrossing..a rough-edged Iranian gem.” – Damon Smith, Time Out NY

“Absorbing and intricately conceived...Artful, compelling, and maddening in equal measure.” – New York magazine

“Impossible love and the vagaries of Islam make for one splendid, emotional movie. Moving, relevant and artistically right.”
– John Anderson, Newsday

“Straight outta the Axis of Evil...comes a movie that teaches a thing or two about the power of forgiveness. By weaving believable characters into a simple but ocean-deep story, Farhadi illuminates issues befalling not just Iranians, but humanity as a whole.”
– Steve Gartland, The L magazine

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY ASGHAR FARHADI • IRAN 2004 • 101 MINUTES IN FARSI WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

IN ISLAMIC IRAN, HOW MUCH IS A WOMAN WORTH IN COMPARISON WITH A MAN — and who pays the difference? Faced with the death penalty for killing his girlfriend at age 16, Akbar is moved to an adult prison at 18 to await execution. The maddening intricacies of the Iranian judicial system have far-reaching implications in this moving, piercing drama. The only way Akbar’s life will be spared is if the victim’s family requests clemency. Muslim law stipulates the value of a woman as half that of a man; therefore, the victim’s father must pay the difference between the cost of his daughter and the worth of her murderer to justify his death. A tale of vengeance, labyrinthine judicial procedure and the concept of “blood money.”

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