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20 Fingers Mania Akbari First-time director Mania Akbari explores the heartbreak and joy of romantic relationships through the stories of seven couples searching for happiness. Comprising seven vignettes, the film features the same two actors in each episode, each time as different characters whose problems unfold in conversations, quarrels, and altercations. Some issues are universal--jealousy, adultery, abortion. Others reveal the personal hardships and political realities exclusive to modern-day Iran, and especially for women. Simultaneously wrenching and uplifting, private and universal, 20 Fingers reveals a director on the cutting edge of filmmaking in her country. Received the Cinema Digitale Award at the Venice International Film Festival. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2004, 72 mins. DVD | $44.95
Black Mirrors: Forough Farrokhzad (The House Is Black / The Mirror of the Soul) Forough Farrokhzad/Nasser Saffarian Forough Farrokhzad, "one of the greatest contemporary Persian poets" (Chris Marker), became a legend in her own time for her innovative and controversial poetry. In this exclusive two-pack, Farrokhzad's only film, The House Is Black (1963, 22 mins.), is offered alongside Nasser Saffarian's The Mirror of the Soul (2000-2004), an extensive, three-part documentary on her life and work full of stark imagery that contrasts the lyrical poetry. 2-DVD set. Includes two short films by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Facets Cine-Notes booklets, and an interview with Pouran Farrokhzad. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 1963/2000-2004, 174 mins. DVD | $65
Black Tape: A Tehran Diary Fariborz Kamkari Subtitled The Videotape Fariborz Kambari Found in the Garbage, the tape referred to in this banned Iranian film contains grainy images of a young woman named Galavije. She chronicled her daily life spent in fear of an abusive, older husband. The narrative follows the trajectory of her taped confessionals, and we learn her domestic keeper is involved with the military, that she's pregnant, and that she's in danger. In Farsi and Kurdish with English subtitles. Iran, 2002, 83 mins. DVD | $37.95
Blackboards Samira Makhmalbaf For her second film, Samira Makhmalbaf, daughter of Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, follows the desperate plight of a group of nomadic teachers who travel the mountainous Kurdistan region of Iran searching for students. With scarce food or water and landmines and gunfire from Iraqi soldiers a constant threat, the teachers trudge on with their blackboards on their backs, determined to educate in the face of desolation. A truly beautiful film, Blackboards won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. In Kurdish with English subtitles. Iran/Italy, 2000, 85 mins. DVD | $44.95
Border Cafe (Cafe Transit) Kambuzia Partovi After the death of her husband, an independent young woman (Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy) decides to take over his truck stop eatery, knowing full well that Iranian custom requires she stay hidden in the kitchen. Her life is further complicated when two men, her conservative brother-in-law and a kindly Greek trucker, take and interest in her company. "Orafaei's approach to her character isn't as a doomed woman, but as a survivor. It's a performance that burns steadily and quietly, with few explosions, and helps steer the film away from emotional excess" (Variety). From the screenwriter of The Circle. Includes discussion guide, director biography, essay on the film's aesthetics, essay on narrative themes, and notes about Iran. In Farsi, Greek, Turkish and Russian with English subtitles. Iran, 2005, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Born Under Libra Ahmad Reza Darvish This romantic drama made headlines in Iran when its director was kidnapped by arch-conservatives and left to die in the desert. (He was later rescued.) The story follows Daniel, who is in love with fellow university student Mahtab, whose father is campaigning for segregated classes at the university. Daniel's association with an ultra-religious group and Mahtab's sympathies with the reformists push the couple further apart. After his love letter to Mahtab is made public, the couple flees Tehran for the countryside, but their attempt to return to the city is a nightmare through a dangerous wasteland. With Mohammad Reza Farutan. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2000, 95 mins. DVD | $44.95
Boutique Hamid Nematollah Hamid Nematollah's compelling drama "stakes out a new path for Iranian cinema" (Variety) as it exposes key problems plaguing modern-day Tehran. Johan is a gentle and thoughtful young man who works as a window dresser at a fashionable boutique. When a poor and very beautiful young girl enters his store, Johan feels compelled to steal a pair of blue jeans for her. This action triggers a downward spiral that will change Johan's life forever. "Painfully real and engaging" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2004, 115 mins. DVD | $44.95
Cafe Setareh Saman Moghadam Cafe Setareh focuses on three women--Fariba, Saloomeh, and Moluk--in a triptych of warm-hearted, interwoven stories set in contemporary Tehran. Fariba operates a cafe, while her alcoholic, unemployed husband sponges off her; Saloomeh debates whether to marry Ebi, whose one good deed doesn't make up for his mean, controlling streak; and Moluk, a middle-aged landlady, pines for a man who has problems of his own. Directed by talented newcomer Saman Moghadam (Maxx). "Sublte, affectionately humorous and poignant...a classic woman's picture" (Los Angeles Times). In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2005, 102 mins. DVD | $44.95
Charlatan Arash Moayerian One of Iran's hottest young filmmakers, actor-director Arash Moayerian (editor on Friday's Soldiers), spins a bittersweet tale of romance in this delightful comedy about two young couples whose lives and dreams are intertwined after a fateful close encounter. Moayerian and star Amin Hayayee (The Intruder) reteam after their successful collaboration in Koma. The pair are joined by a cast of rising stars of Iranian cinema, including Leila Boushehri, recently hailed for her performance in Dead Heat Under the Shrub. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2004, 98 mins. DVD | $44.95
Corrupted Hands Syrus Alvand Marriage is supposed to be a celebration, but it's a criminal enterprise for two of the characters in this Iranian heist comedy. Reminiscent of Take the Money and Run and Raising Arizona, Syrus Alvand's film follows Siamak, a wedding photographer who plans to rob his next ceremony with the help of his siblings. Unbeknownst to Siamak, his own father-in-law-to-be has enlisted a hood named Bad Nasser to tail him, and of course Nasser wants in on the loot. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran 2000 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
Daughters of the Sun Mariam Shahriar Honored as Best First Feature at the Montreal Festival of World Cinema, Mariam Shahriar's debut shows an "unusual gift for expressive imagery" (Leslie Camhi, The Village Voice). The movie is in the spirit of The Circle, The Day I Became a Woman, and other recent films about women from the increasingly bold and controversial Iranian cinema. It follows a young woman who disguises herself as a boy so that she can work long, hard hours in a carpet workshop to support her family. Her secret is complicated when a female co-worker falls in love with her. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2000, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Day Break Hamid Rahmanian In Iran, capital punishment is carried out according to Islamic law, which gives the family of the victim ownership of the offender's life. Day Break, based on a compilation of true stories and shot inside of Tehran's century old prison, revolves around the imminent execution of Mansour, a man found guilty of murder. When the family of the victim repeatedly fails to show up on the appointed day, the execution is postponed again and again. Stuck inside the purgatory of his own mind, he waits as time passes on without him caught between life and death, retribution and forgiveness. The film is riveting as Mansour gets angry at his boss and picks up a big rock. The offscreen action results in a murder. Through flashbacks, we learn the backstory that Mansour moved his family to Tehran from their little village in northern Iran. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2005, 85 min. DVD | $37.95
Deserted Station Alireza Raisian Avowed Kiarostami disciple Alireza Raisian directs this lyrical story about a married couple that encounters unexpected delays while en route to a religious shrine. While the photographer husband seeks assistance for a broken-down automobile, his young wife (Leila Hatami) wanders into a local school and begins developing an uncanny bond with the eager young schoolchildren. Conceived by Abbas Kiarostami and scripted by Kambuzia Partovi (The Circle), this luminous work boasts an incredible confluence of talent. "For filmgoers who like dramas that are spare yet evocative, that focus on the subtleties of relationships, and that feature foreign settings completely off the beaten path, Deserted Station will be a masterpiece" (San Francisco Chronicle). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2002, 88 mins. DVD | $44.95
Donya Manouchehr Mosayeri In this breezy domestic comedy and Iranian box office smash, Donya (Hediyeh Tehrani) returns from America to discover that it is not easy to find a place to live in modern-day Tehran. Eventually, she hires Haji (Mohammad Reza Sharifinia), the well-to-do owner of a realty company, to help her out. Though a traditional conservative and much older than Donya, Haji falls for his attractive new client. Haji's newly stirred passions prompt him to do things he might not ordinarily do, including updating his clothing style, cutting his hair, and sending his wife and family on a vacation to get them out of the way. "A satisfying human comedy... Tehrani continues to impress in a perfectly cast role that brings out her cool grace and alluring sexiness" (Variety). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2003, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Dress Rehearsal: The Brave Hurr's Ta’Zieh Nasser Taghvai From Nasser Taghvai, one of the original filmmakers of the Iranian New Wave, comes this rare glimpse into the performance of a ta'zieh, an ancient and uniquely Iranian passion play that celebrates the glory of martyrdom for the sake of justice. Based on stories and fables of Islam's prophet Mohammad, but influenced by Iranian folklore, the ta'zieh became the sole dramatic form in the world of Islam after the rise of the Shiite sect. The overall subject of any ta'zieh is the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the prophet Muhammad. Specifically, the story of the Brave Hurr, the Imam's foe turned comrade, assumes a singular place in this documentary. In Persian with English Subtitles. Iran, 2005, 64 mins. DVD | $44.95
Fireworks Wednesday Asghar Farhadi All of Tehran is preparing to celebrate Chaharshanbe-Soori, or the festival of fire, which falls on the last Tuesday night before the Persian New Year. On this auspicious evening, Rouhi (Taraneh Alidoosti), a young woman from a poor neighborhood, is hired by a middle class couple to clean their house. Sweet, naive, and soon to be married, Rouhi's innocence is shattered when she finds herself in the middle of her employers' domestic dispute over accusations of infidelity. "Few Iranian films have tried to realistically depict both the urban middle and lower classes, and fewer still with the complexity of story telling and depth of characterization in Asghar Farhadi's impressive third feature, Fireworks Wednesday" (Deborah Young, Variety). Winner of the Gold Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival. In Farsi with optional English subtitles. Iran, 2006, 104 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Forbidden Chapter Fariborz Kamkari In this dark thriller, a serial killer preys on prostitutes in an attempt to purify the Holy City. When a hardboiled detective is sent to bring him to justice, the trail leads to a cult of religious fundamentalists that might have played a role in the brutal slayings. Unlike many serial killer movies in the states, which imbed a sociopolitical message beneath the violence, Fariborz Kamkari's film foregrounds its critique of corrupt politics, religion, and social inequalities in Iran. Stars Faramarz Gharibian, Nima Hassandokht, Negar Abedi, and Farhad Mohandespour. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran/France/Italy, 2006, 90 mins. DVD | $37.95
Friday's Soldiers Massoud Kimiayi One of the major filmmakers of Iran's New Wave, Massoud Kimiayi, directs this haunting drama about four soldiers who come to Tehran on military leave. Accompanied by their commanding officer, they experience life-changing adventures that reveal the sights and sounds of the modern-day city. Merila Zare'ee won a Best Supporting Actress award at the Fajr International Film Festival for her performance here, and the film finds her reunited with Two Women co-star Mohammad Reza Forutan. In Farsi with English subtitles. DVD includes director biography, behind-the-scenes featurette, photo gallery, and trailer. Iran 2004 98 mins. DVD | $44.95
Garden Salad Freydoun Jeyrani Another great Iranian film directed by talented Freydoun Jeyrani (Last Supper, Pink). Leila, a girl from a poor family, who has no choice but to pick pockets in order to make ends meet. Leila meets Hamid Doosdar, an investor businessman, while riding the subway that changes her life direction. Leila falls in love with Hamid and there is only one thing on their way, Hamid's wife. Leila considers the only thing blocking her happiness, Hamid's Wife. She plans her murder by using her ex-lover, but the story takes a completely different turn... In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2005, 90 min. DVD | $37.95
The Girl in the Sneakers Rassul Sadr-Ameli The love between two Iranian teens sparks opposition from their parents and strict Islamic law in this snapshot of first love and youthful rebellion. Forbidden by her parents to ever see her boyfriend Aideen again, young Tadaie runs away from home to find him, thus beginning a fascinating journey though the streets of Tehran. "Poetic" (Variety). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 1999, 110 mins. DVD | $44.95
Girl's Dormitory Mohammad Hossein Latifi Iranian horror fans got lucky this month, as Mohammad-Hossein Latifi's new horror movie "Girl's Dormitory" hit screens. The film follows a group of college kids who are forced to move into a house that the local people believe to be haunted. You can guess where plot goes from there. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2007, 93 min. DVD | $37.95
Going By Iraj Karimi On any given day a variety of travelers take the road from Tehran to northern Iraq. On one particular day, four carloads of people take the main road, each for different reasons. The characters do not know each other, and their final destinations differ, but their conversations about life and death have much in common. While staying within the conventions of the road movie, director Iraj Karimi successfully adds a metaphorical dimension to the daylong journey of the characters. By turns pleasant and profound, Going By is a remarkable debut feature for Karimi, one of Iran's most prominent film critics. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2001, 86 mins. DVD | $44.95
Googoosh: Iran's Daughter Farhad Zamani Until the 1979 Islamic Revolution brought her career to a halt, Googoosh was the most famous pop singer in Iran. Her career began as a child performer and included several film roles, but it was through her recordings that she became a cultural phenomenon. Her stardom influenced some controversial fashions in the tradition-bound nation, including women's short hair styles that remain popular today. This documentary tells the story of Googoosh, including her recent resurgence as a performer. Interviews and great performance footage show the incredible impact she has had on Iranian society. The DVD includes photo gallery, rare music tracks and discography, and bonus short films by Farhad Zamani. In Farsi and English with English subtitles. USA/Iran, 2000, 157 mins. DVD | $44.95
Hemlock Behrooz Afkhami A married factory manager grapples with the dire financial situation of his company while he also becomes involved in an emotional, unstable affair. With its open treatment of infidelity, this Iranian Fatal Attraction proved to be quite controversial in Iran, and also a box office success. "Afkhami, however, surpasses [Adrian] Lyne's thriller with his subtlety, complexity, and compassion, and his vision of a world of moral ambiguity layered with unexpected corruption and innocence" (Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix). Videocassette in Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2000, 86 mins. DVD | $44.95
The House is Black Forough Farrokhzad This very short film is of staggering force, lyrically composed by one of the 20th century's leading poets, and a revelation. In the 1960s, lionized poet Forough Farrokhzad directed her first and only film. It depicts the lives and bodies of people tragically deformed by leprosy. This is a film of stirring and powerful images, and a beautifully, tragically poetic narration. The House Is Black has heavily influenced the modern Iranian cinema of such great filmmakers as Abbas Kiarostami and Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who called it "the best Iranian film." It provides, in the film's own words, "a vision of pain no caring human being should ignore." The DVD includes a booklet written exclusively for the DVD with essays by Chris Marker and Jonathan Rosenbaum, biographies of Farrokhzad and Makhmalbaf, video interview with poet Pooran Farrokhzad (sister of Forough Farrokhzad) from PBS series Adventure Divas, and additionally two short films by Mohsen Makhmalbaf: The School That Was Blown Away (1996, color, 8 mins.) and Images From the Qajar Dynasty (1992, color/B&W, 18 mins.). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 1962, 22 mins. DVD | $44.95
Iron Island Mohammad Rasoulof Mohammad Rasoulof's ambitious and critically acclaimed film, about an abandoned oil tanker that houses homeless squatters from Iran's Sunni-Arab minority, is both a wistful drama and a clever allegory about the politics of survival in the Middle East. The titular Iron Island is a floating scrap heap where residents scavenge for cash under the watchful eye of Captain Nemat (Ali Nasirian), a well-meaning but authoritarian leader whose perch is threatened by a brash up-and-comer (Hossein Farzi-Zadeh). "[One of] the best movies to come out of Iran in years" (Christian Science Monitor). In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2005, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Jar (Khomreh) Ebrahim Foruzesh Set in 1963 Iran, this elegant, award-winning tale is the simple story of an elementary school in a poor village in the middle of the desert. One day, the children discover that the water jar--the sole vessel for their drinking water--is cracked. But getting the jar fixed turns out to be more complicated than one might imagine and it is up to an extraordinary teacher to finally get the job done. With Behzad Khodaveisi and Fatemeh Azrah. In Farsi with English subtitles. Includes optional traditional Chinese subtitles. Iran, 1992, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Key Ebrahim Forouzesh Humor, pathos and suspense fill this story of a four-year-old and an infant left home alone while their mother runs out to do some shopping. Young Amir Mohammad has his own ideas about what he wants to do - and watching his baby brother and the meal cooking in the kitchen are not among them. Minor crisis piles on crisis, culminating in the threat of disaster when the cooking pot boils over, dousing the flame on the gas range. As frantic neighbors yell advice to the resourceful youngster, tension mounts. Winner of the award for Best Children's Film at the Berlin Film Festival. Screenplay by Abbas Kiarostami. Videocassette in Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 1986, 76 mins. Videocassette | $44.95
The Last Act Varuzh Karim-Masihi This highly acclaimed, award-winning debut feature from Karim-Masihi is an atmospheric mystery which unfolds as a play within a play. The action takes place in '30s Tehran, where a sinister brother and sister plot to dispose of their recently widowed sister-in-law in order to obtain her inheritance. They hire a troupe of itinerant performers to pose as servants and stage horrific events. The terrified widow calls on the police for help, but the investigator assigned to the case becomes convinced she is crazy because "evidence" of each "crime" disappears before authorities arrive on the scene. Videocassette in Farsi with English subtitles. Iran 1991 110 mins. Videocassette | $44.95
The Last Supper Fereydoun Jeyrani In this searing domestic drama about a very unique love triangle, a professor of architecture history divorces her husband after 26 years of marriage. She returns to the house of her father, along with her supportive daughter, to begin life anew. When a handsome young student enters the picture, the bonds between a mother and daughter are stretched beyond the breaking point. Unable to endure the humiliation, the husband sets off a chain of events that leads to heartbreak and destruction. A fascinating tale of love and revenge from Fereydoun Jeyrani, an exciting new voice from the contemporary Iranian cinema. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2002, 96 mins. DVD | $44.95
Letters in the Wind Ali-Reza Amini Despite being officially barred from leaving Iran's borders, Ali-Reza Amini's film has earned international acclaim as a standout of the Iranian New Wave. The film follows a young man as he performs his military service at a camp near Tehran. A smuggled tape recorder with a recording of a woman's voice is the only lifeline that he and his comrades have to the cheerful world outside of their barracks. With its beautiful imagery and lingering themes, Amini's film is "a captivating tale of desire" (Toronto Film Festival). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran 2002 76 mins. DVD | $44.95
Low Heights Egrahim Hatamikia Based on a true story, this Fajr Film Festival Audience Award-winner is an action film filled with dark humor. Ghassem (Hamid Farrokhnezhad) is a man at his wit's end and desperate to get his family out of Iran. Together with his pregnant wife, he hijacks a plane, but undercover officers onboard the flight will not let the hijacking go smoothly. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran 2002 115 mins. DVD | $44.95
Mariyam Ramin Serry A gripping movie, Mariyam follows a young Iranian-American teenage girl (Mariam Parris) living in New Jersey in 1979, whose devout Muslim cousing Ali (David Ackert) comes to the U.S. to study. As Mariyam grapples with the typical high school pressures like dating and catty rivals, tensions between Ali and Mariyam's father (Shaun Toub) spring from a dark family secret. When hostages are taken at the American embassy in Iran, prejudice flares up, throwing Mariyam's life into turmoil. The story of Mariyam manages to take the crises of adolescence and socio-political conflict and make both equally vivid. Writer-director Ramin Serry skillfully grounds the culture clash between Muslim fundamentalism and conventional American morality in everyday concerns, capturing an historical moment with details that resonate powerfully. The entire cast is superb; Parris's compelling presence keeps the movie's issues immediate and personal. In English. USA, 2002, 95 min. DVD | $37.95
Marmulak (The Lizard) Kamal Tabrizi "Marmoolak" (The Lizard), a film by Iranian director Kamal Tabrizi about a convict who escapes prison in the cloak and turban of a cleric and becomes an accidental mullah, was a huge hit in Iran. Ticket lines snaked around theaters. People bought tickets days in advance, breaking Iranian box-office records. Everyone, from schoolchildren to grandmothers, talked about the film. All wondered, out loud, how such an open criticism of the clergy could receive a screening permit from this theocratic regime. The film was banned in Iran after only 3 weeks. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2004, 97 min. DVD | $37.95
Marooned in Iraq Bahman Ghobadi In the wake of the Persian Gulf War, an elderly Kurdish singer becomes concerned about the safety of his former wife and sets out with his two sons to find her, regardless of the fact that she left him two decades prior for another man. This smart combination of humor and social criticism from Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi examines both the beauty and humor in kinship and the devastating affects of war. Screened at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. In Kurdish with English subtitles. Iran, 2002, 110 mins. DVD | $44.95
The May Lady Rakhshan Bani-Etemad A divorced, Iranian woman confronts the contradictory desires affecting her life and work in this bold examination of the universal tensions between motherhood, womanhood and professional life. As Forough Kia, a middle-aged, documentary filmmaker, interviews women from all walks of life for a television show on "the perfect mother," she begins to question her own life, her relationship with her teenage son - who resents her dating another man, and her place in Iranian society. The winner of the Special Jury Award at the 1998 Fajr Film Festival. "Strong and heartfelt" (L.A. Weekly). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 1998, 88 mins. DVD | $44.95
Maxx Saman Moghaddam A smash hit in Iran, Maxx is a delightful musical comedy starring a cast of fresh faces, including Farhad Ayish in the title role. In this hilarious tale of mistaken identity, Maxx, a performer in a Los Angeles night club, receives an invitation to participate in a music festival in Tehran. Upon arriving in Iran, Maxx is astounded by the warm welcome and the many invitations to important cultural events. Little does he know that his invitation was originally intended for a prominent symphony conductor with a similar name. When authorities in Iran discover Maxx is a rapper, chaos erupts. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2005, 110 min. DVD | $37.95
Men At Work Mani Haghighi This film tells the hilarious story of four old friends who, driving back from a failed skiing trip, encounter a strange and enormous rock. The men's frivolous attempt to dislodge the rock gradually disintegrates into a tale of betrayal, defeat and renewed hope. The heroes of the film are doctors, engineers and businessmen in the throes of mid-life crises. Their middleclass problems and the absurd phallic rock venture gives rise to great humor. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2006, 77 min. DVD | $37.95
The Mission Parviz Sayyad This engaging film has Touzie playing a hit man from Iran, sent by the Islamic regime to eliminate enemies of the state and former allies of the deposed Shah. In New York, his new assignment is to bump off Sayyad, a former colonel in the Shah's SAVAK secret police. As a devout Muslim in the Babylon of New York City, Touzie goes through numerous culture shocks to which he cannot adjust. Eventually he closes in on his victim, but before he can strike, he inadvertently saves his target from being mugged. Sayyad, grateful for what his fellow countryman has done, takes his would-be killer into his home and treats him as a member of the family, not realizing Touzie's true intent... In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 1983, 90 min. DVD | $37.95
Mystic Iran: Unseen World Aryana Farshad Filmmaker Aryana Farshad journeys deep into the heart of Iran to create a unprecedented look at her native country. Shot entirely on location, this documentary reveals rites, rituals and locales hidden for centuries, including the women's chamber of the Great Mosque, the temple-caves in the land of Zarathustra, and the sacred dance of the Dervishes in Kurdistan. Iran, 2003, 52 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Need Alireza Davudneshad "One of those rare works in which the perfect rendering of simple elements produces a small, unforgettable masterpiece. The film's two main characters are boys poised between childhood and manhood. Both are poor. The boy through whose eyes we experience the drama has lost his father in the war and seems to have only the bleakest of prospects, until a relative finds him a choice apprentice's position in a print shop. But there is a catch; another boy coveting the spot has also been taken on, with the better of the two getting the permanent job after a trial period. Thus begins a fierce if somewhat covert rivalry that results in workplace sabotage, fighting and then, very surprisingly, friendship" (Godfrey Cheshire, Film Comment). Videocassette in Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 1991, 81 mins. Videocassette | $44.95
Our Times Rakhshan Bani-Etemad A fascinating documentary from Rakshan Bani-Etemad (The May Lady), the most outspoken and respected female director working in Iran today. Bani-Etemad's film focuses on the Iranian elections of 2002 and the role of women in Iranian society. The filmmaker follows a group of women who run for office and gradually narrows her view to the plight of one woman who attempts an heroic but unsuccessful run for the presidency. "An unforgettable picture of women in today's Iran" (Variety). DVD includes documentary segment about Iranian women directors and Facets Cine-Notes booklet featuring a director interview. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran 2002 65 mins. DVD | $44.95
Paper Airplane Fahad Mehranfar In this magnificent Iranian family film, a Ministry of Culture employee travels with his son into mountain forests north of Teheran (Rasht Province) where he sets up his screen and projector before villagers who have never seen a film before. In open-air screenings, these villagers see both Charlie Chaplin and a village melodrama film. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 1997, 90 min. DVD | $37.95
Party Saman Moghadam Amin Haghi, a young writer for Iran's most liberal magazine, is accused of insulting the state when he publishes his dead brother's war memoirs. As he sits in jail, his girlfriend and buddies try to make bail so they can be with him while he awaits trial. After little success, someone hits upon the idea of renting out Amin's family home for special celebrations. The plan works until they inadvertently host a raucous party with alcohol and loud western music. Part love story, part social commentary, Party exposes the suffering of Iranian society at the hands of a repressive government, especially in relation to press censorship. Almost banned by authorities, this controversial drama was directed by Saman Moghadam (Siavash, Cafe Setareh), whose films entertain as much as they explore and critique. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2000, 88 mins. DVD | $44.95
Pastry Girl Iraj Tahmasb For 20 years, Saeed has been trying to marry the homely pastry chef Niloo, but their rivaling families have used one ploy after another to block the marriage. Just as it appears that both clans have finally softened, fistfights break out at the ceremony, prompting another postponement. Iraj Tahmasb's Iranian farce skewers marriage customs and social conventions in colorful fashion. "Full of humor and hilarity" (Iranian Film Society). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran 2002 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Protest Massoud Kimiayi This fascinating film by Massoud Kimiayi, one of the few active filmmakers from Iran's pre-revolutionary period, shows the personal effect on one man of the country's societal reforms. Amir (Dariush Arjmand) serves 12 years in prison for killing his brother's unfaithful fiancee--an act he considers necessary to restore the family's honor. In jail he is treated as a hero, but upon his release Amir finds that his country has changed considerably and his murder is now considered barbaric. "Long time screen presence Arjmand builds a subtle portrait of an alienated, prematurely old man" (Robert Koehler, Variety). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2000, 102 mins. DVD | $44.95
Secret Ballot Babak Payami In this uniquely Iranian take on the road comedy, a female polling official travels through remote villages collecting votes on election day, accompanied by a disgruntled military border guard. Based on a story idea by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Secret Ballot finds the humor and the humanity in Iran's struggle toward democratic reform and the even more difficult road women must travel there. "...a parable-like portrait of the irresistible forces of modernization and democracy meeting the immovable inertia of tradition..." (Sean Axmaker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer). DVD is letterboxed with optional French subtitles and theatrical trailer. In Farsi with English subtitleIran, 2001, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Siavash Saman Moghadam The directorial debut of Saman Moghadam (Cafe Setareh) "broke a number of barriers" (New YorktTimes). This drama captures the mood of Iran just after the Iran-Iraq war, in which a younger generation was less fervent about religion and more concerned with leading peaceful lives. Rock musician Siavash is set to play his first show with his band when he decides to visit the tomb of his father--martyred in the war--to seek his blessing. After the concert, Siavash learns his father is actually alive and has returned to Tehran with other POWs. Distraught and confused, the young man turns to his photojournalist girlfriend for support. The film was originally banned by authorities for featuring rock music and depicting public interactions between young men and women. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 1998, 88 mins. DVD | $44.95
Smell of Camphor: Fragrance of Jasmine Bahman Farmanara Iranian director Bahman Farmanara (Tall Shadows of the Wind) wrote, directed and stars in this hauntingly funny, autobiographical film about censorship, art and mortality. Farmanara plays a filmmaker who has been forbidden from making a picture since Iran's Post-Revolutionary Censor Board came into existence decades prior. Struggling with a severe cardiac condition, he sets out against the odds to produce what he believes to be his last film. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2002, 93 mins. DVD | $44.95
A Snake's Tail Bijan Daneshmand Set in London, the film is about the friendship between Kami, a forty year old westernised Iranian businessman whose father has passed away, and Agha, the Mullah or Priest who conducts the burial ceremony. We see how Agha, an opium addict with a penchant for Persian Sufi poetry, takes the distraught Kami under his wings. During their weekly meetings Agha not only exposes Kami to the Spiritual poetry of Rumi and Hafiz but to the euphoric pleasures of opium, the preferred drug of Iranians since time immemorial. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2006, 75 min. DVD | $37.95
Soul Mate Mehdi Fakhim-zadeh From Iranian actor-director Mehdi Fakhim-zadeh comes this searing drama about Behrouz, a man who has recently been released from an asylum after suffering several bouts of madness. When Behrouz meets Shirin, they impulsively decide to get married and begin a series of life adventures. With popular Iranian actress Roya Nounahali. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran 2004 110 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Suitors Ghasem Ebrahimian Iranian businessman Haji returns to Manhattan with his new bride, Mariyam from Iran. Haji's friends plan a feast to celebrate the marriage in the traditional style, which includes a slaughtered lamb. Lamb's blood from the messy ritual dripping into the apartment below causes a suspicious neighbor to call the police. When Haji is killed in the ensuing police intervention, the widow Mariyam is wooed by Haji's friends. Sensing Mariyam's reluctance, Mohammed acts quickly to propose marriage with tragi-comedic consequences. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 1989, 90 min. DVD | $37.95
Trap Sirus Alvand A young couple just got married. A few incidents make the bride suspicious of the groom and cause her many worries. To make sure the groom is loyal, the bride comes up with a plan to test him. She sends a girl his way to seduce him in order to find out how loyal he is. But the girl falls in love with the groom and... In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2007, 90 min. DVD | $37.95
Travellers Bahram Beyzai A daring mix of the traditional Iranian passion play and an experimental narrative style, Travellers is the story of a wedding ceremony which turns into a funeral wake when the bride's sister and her entire family are killed in a traffic accident. The film, from director Bahram Beyzai, one of the most talented auteurs of Iranian cinema, is "a brilliant exposition of the themes of death and predestination…[it] incorporates most of Beyzai's stylistic and thematic preoccupations - the alienated identity, theatrical setups, camerawork, sound effects, music, multiplicity of characters, time lapses, etc. - all brought together and unified into a homogeneous whole by the director's unfailing overall control" (International Film Guide). Videocassette in Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 1992, 90 mins. Videocassette | $44.95
Twilight Hassan Hedayat Iranian detective Mohammad Alavi (Ezatollah Entezami) continues to solve murders even though the traumatic death of his wife and two daughters has left him psychologically scarred. When a corpse turns up with a mysterious connection to Alavi's private life, the detective finds himself battling his own inner demons even as he struggles to locate the killer. This ghostly, atmospheric police drama was written, directed, and produced by Hassan Hedayat. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2002, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Twilight Mohammad Rosoulof Documentary director Mohammad Rosoulof makes an impressive feature debut with this simple but powerful true story of prison life in Iran, featuring real-life prisoners playing themselves. A prison warden decides that in order to rehabilitate a repeat offender he should allow him to marry a female prisoner. The new bride and groom are allowed to be together one day a week and eventually have a child. When they are finally freed, they see a chance to have a normal life together, not expecting the cruel society that awaits them. Rosoulof's "authentic prison drama blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction" (Boston Museum of Fine Arts Film Program). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran 2002 83 mins. DVD | $44.95
Under the Moonlight Reza Mir-Karimi In this provocative film from the new Iranian cinema, seminary student Seyyed Hassan is preparing to rise to the status of cleric when his vestments are stolen by a young thief. Seyyed tracks the boy to a poor and distant suburb where he's treated to an eye-opening view of the gulf between religious teachings and harsh, everyday life. Winner of the Grand Prize for Feature at the 2001 Critics Week at Cannes, Under the Moonlight boasts "obvious sincerity and a forthright sense of purpose" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2001, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
Under the Peach Tree Iraj Tahmaseb For years members of a strange family have been predicting their time of death in their sleep ... taking place at 5 pm. Now when an old man from this family has a dream about his time of death, he summons his son and puts a condition on his will and that is that the member of the family have to marry off an old bachelor butler of the house or they can not inherit his wealth, but their is only one problem, the butler does not want to get married. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 1994, 110 min. DVD | $37.95
Under the Skin of the City Rakhshan Bani-Etemad A powerful Iranian family drama that follows a mother desperately trying to keep her family together despite the many challenges that threaten to tear them apart. Tuba (Golab Adineh) is a headstrong mother who supports her family of four by working tiring hours at a Tehran factory, while political radicalism, abuse and drugs take their toll on her children. In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2001, 93 mins. DVD | $44.95
White Dream Hamid Jebeli Actor-director Hamid Jebelli (Son of Maryam) offers a charming portrait of a mentally challenged man looking for love in a world that largely ignores him. Feeble-minded Reza works at a bridal shop where he transports wedding dresses on his old, rickety bicycle. Reza spends his time communing with his long-dead mother at the cemetery, or with a dress mannequin in the shop window. One day, not long after the mannequin loses its head, Reza's life changes when a beautiful woman, accompanied by her maid, arrives at the store looking for bridal veils. "A sweet-natured Iranian film of considerable charm and humor" (Los Angeles Times). In Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 2001, 95 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Wind Carpet Kamal Tabrizi Ten-year-old Sakura (Miyu Yagyu) travels with her father Makoto (Takaaki Enoki) from Japan, to Isfahan, Iran, to pick up a Persian carpet designed by her late mother. Although warmly greeted by Makoto’s friend Akbar (Reza Kianian), it soon becomes clear that the carpet - needed in 20 days’ time for a Japanese street-festival - has not even been started. Coming to the rescue is Ruzbeh (Farboud Ahmadjo), Akbar’s tenacious and streetwise 11-year-old nephew, who mobilises the locals into a sort of carpet-weaving Task Force in a bid to get the job done. This Iranian-Japanese co-production fittingly celebrates cross-cultural collaboration as a way of getting results and, perhaps more importantly, enriching each other’s traditional way of life. Although essentially a conventional fish-out-of-water story, director Kamal Tabrizi brings a variety of tones and textures to the film to keep it from following a predictable pattern. Vibrant, good-natured and with a deeply-embedded emotional thread running throughout, this is an accessible family film with much to offer fans of Iranian cinema, fans of Japanese cinema and fans of cinema full-stop. In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2003, 110 min. DVD | $37.95
Women's Prison Manijeh Hekmat Controversial in every sense of the word, this Iranian production confronts crime, drugs, prostitution, and homosexuality. The narrative centers around the conflict between Mitra, imprisoned for killing her abusive stepfather, and a new warden out to set an example. Offering a much-needed view of the lives of contemporary Iranian women, the film acts as a symbol for their struggles in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution. Previously banned by authorities, Senses of Cinema calls Women's Prison "a compelling sociological portrait." In Persian with English subtitles. Iran, 2002, 106 mins. DVD | $44.95
Zinat Ebrahim Mokhtari A riveting drama about the attempts of Zinat, who runs a health clinic in a remote part of Southern Iran, to break free of the male-dominated rules and regulations that govern life in rural Iran. Though her expertise and hard work make her invaluable to her conservative community, when Zinat becomes engaged to Hamed, his disagreeable mother demands that she quit her job. Zinat tries to be a satisfied wife and daughter-in-law, but when a medical emergency develops in the village, she is forced to choose between her duty to her family and her commitment as a health care provider. "The feminist message is universal" (Variety). Farsi with English subtitles. Iran, 1994, 88 mins. Videocassette | $44.95
