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Why Iranian Cinema Has a Special Place in My Heart
I wasn’t introduced to Iranian cinema in a film class or by a critic. It was pure curiosity. The first film I saw was Children of Heaven, and I remember thinking, “How can something so simple feel this profound?” Since then, I’ve dived deep into Iranian films—from post-revolution dramas to international festival hits. They’re slow, minimal, quiet. But they hit hard. Iranian movies don’t scream. They whisper. And somehow, that leaves an even deeper mark.
These aren’t just movies. They’re windows into culture, everyday life, censorship, resistance, and most importantly, human emotion.
So here are 25 Iranian films that left a mark on me. Some made me cry. Others made me reflect. All of them made me love cinema even more.
1. A Separation (2011) – Asghar Farhadi
Why watch: This gripping family drama explores the emotional unraveling of a couple facing divorce. But it’s not just about them—it’s about class, religion, and truth in modern Iran. The layers are endless. I remember watching it and constantly asking myself, “What would I do?” No wonder it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
2. Children of Heaven (1997) – Majid Majidi
A pair of shoes, a brother and sister, and a race. That’s all. But the emotional depth packed into this film is unbelievable. I cried watching this—not because something tragic happened, but because it reminded me how strong love between siblings can be. It’s innocent and pure and so beautifully Iranian.
3. Taste of Cherry (1997) – Abbas Kiarostami
A man drives around Tehran, looking for someone to help him commit suicide—by burying him. Sounds dark? It is. But it’s also philosophical, minimalist, and strangely life-affirming. I watched this late at night and couldn’t sleep after. Kiarostami’s direction is poetic.
4. The White Balloon (1995) – Jafar Panahi
A young girl wants to buy a goldfish for Nowruz. Her journey becomes a microcosm of Tehran’s streets, voices, and lives. The pacing is so simple yet captivating. I felt like I was walking beside her the whole time. The film captures childhood curiosity like few others.
5. The Color of Paradise (1999) – Majid Majidi
Mohammad, a blind boy, returns to his village from a special school. The film is filled with gorgeous shots of nature and subtle commentary about disability and family acceptance. Majidi doesn’t just make films—he makes feelings. You don’t watch his films; you feel them.
6. The Salesman (2016) – Asghar Farhadi
A couple performing in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman must deal with trauma when the wife is attacked. The tension slowly builds. What would revenge look like? Is justice ever clear? The psychological realism is raw, and Farhadi’s storytelling leaves no emotion untouched.
7. The Cow (1969) – Dariush Mehrjui
A man’s only cow dies, and he slowly begins to believe he is the cow. Yes, really. But it’s not absurd—it’s haunting. Symbolic and stark, this film kickstarted the Iranian New Wave and remains a metaphor-rich watch.
8. About Elly (2009) – Asghar Farhadi
A group of friends vacation near the Caspian Sea. One of them disappears. What follows is an unraveling of lies, expectations, and social pressure. It’s like a mystery movie without the usual thrills—yet it’s more gripping than any crime drama I’ve seen.
9. Under the Shadow (2016) – Babak Anvari
War outside, ghosts inside. This horror film, set during the Iran-Iraq war, follows a mother and daughter haunted in their Tehran apartment. But the real fear? The repressive society they live in. It’s scary because it’s true.
10. Through the Olive Trees (1994) – Abbas Kiarostami
This film-within-a-film shows a director making a movie in earthquake-hit rural Iran. The subtle romance between two actors becomes the emotional center. The ending—one long shot—left me breathless.
11. Close-Up (1990) – Abbas Kiarostami
A man impersonates a famous director. Why? Because he loves cinema. The lines between fiction and reality blur as real people reenact their roles. It’s meta, emotional, and strangely empathetic.
12. The Lizard (2004) – Kamal Tabrizi
A thief escapes prison by dressing as a mullah. He ends up accidentally inspiring people. A bold satire that made me laugh out loud and think hard. Still relevant today.
13. Hit the Road (2021) – Panah Panahi
A family’s road trip is full of laughter, songs, and melancholy. It’s a farewell journey, but no one says it out loud. The young son’s energy, the silent brother, the worried parents—it’s beautifully balanced.
14. Song of Sparrows (2008) – Majid Majidi
A father loses his job and ends up transporting goods in Tehran to feed his family. It’s about integrity, city vs. village life, and fatherhood. Majidi makes small struggles feel enormous.
15. Turtles Can Fly (2004) – Bahman Ghobadi
Set in a Kurdish refugee camp before the Iraq invasion. Children disarm landmines, run their own camp, and hope for something better. It’s devastating. I was silent for a long time after watching this.
16. Leila (1997) – Dariush Mehrjui
Leila can’t have children. Her mother-in-law pressures her into letting her husband marry another woman. A painful, slow-burning exploration of patriarchy, tradition, and emotional pain.
17. The Willow Tree (2005) – Majid Majidi
A blind professor regains sight. But what he sees—his changed life—leaves him disoriented. A philosophical take on perception and identity.
18. The Night It Rained (1967) – Kamran Shirdel
A mockumentary questioning truth in journalism. Told with humor and irony, it challenges what we believe to be “facts.” Sharp and ahead of its time.
19. The House Is Black (1963) – Forough Farrokhzad
Shot in a leper colony, it’s part documentary, part poem. The visuals are haunting, the narration poetic. It’s a must-watch for anyone who appreciates cinema as art.
20. Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987) – Abbas Kiarostami
A boy travels to return his friend’s notebook. That’s it. But it becomes a symbol of friendship, duty, and childhood. Pure cinema.
21. Crimson Gold (2003) – Jafar Panahi
A pizza delivery man witnesses Tehran’s wealth gap and slowly cracks under the pressure. A quiet commentary on class and injustice.
22. Leila’s Brothers (2022) – Saeed Roustayi
Banned in Iran. A family tries to climb out of poverty but collapses under pride, hierarchy, and desperation. Raw and relevant.
23. The Circle (2000) – Jafar Panahi
Multiple women try to navigate Tehran after escaping prison. The film’s circular structure shows how hard it is to escape fate when the system is against you.
24. This Is Not a Film (2011) – Jafar Panahi
Shot while under house arrest using a camera and an iPhone. It’s both a protest and a poetic exploration of what it means to be silenced.
25. Brick and Mirror (1966) – Ebrahim Golestan
A taxi driver finds a baby in his cab. The film explores responsibility, urban life, and morality in pre-revolution Iran.
Where to Watch Iranian Films
- Mubi (they often rotate Kiarostami and Farhadi films)
- Netflix (some Majid Majidi and Under the Shadow)
- YouTube (a goldmine of older, subtitled classics)
- ShahreFarang and Farsiland (for Persian speakers)
- Festival screeners: Berlinale, Cannes, and Venice often feature new releases.
Why Iranian Directors Matter
- Abbas Kiarostami: The poet of minimalism.
- Asghar Farhadi: The moral philosopher.
- Jafar Panahi: The rebel with a camera.
- Majid Majidi: The child whisperer.
- Dariush Mehrjui: The pioneer.
- Rakhshan Bani-Etemad: The feminist lens.
They faced bans, censorship, arrests, and house arrest. But they kept filming.
FAQs
Q: What is the most famous Iranian movie internationally? A: A Separation by Asghar Farhadi, which won an Oscar.
Q: Who is the most famous Iranian director? A: Abbas Kiarostami, known for Taste of Cherry and Close-Up.
Q: Where can I watch these films with subtitles? A: Try Mubi, YouTube, and Criterion Channel.
Q: What defines the Iranian New Wave? A: Realism, non-professional actors, social themes, and poetic storytelling.
My Final Thoughts
These films are mirrors. Not just of Iran, but of all of us. Whether you’re drawn to emotional storytelling, minimal visuals, or sociopolitical tension, Iranian cinema has it all.
Let me know if any of these made you feel something. Or if you have more to recommend. I’m always ready for another Iranian film night.
Written by someone who cried during Children of Heaven and stared at the wall after Taste of Cherry.