Cinema Rex - Iranian Cinema Podcast

The true story of Hossain Sabzian, a cinephile who impersonated the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf to convince a family they would star in his so-called new film.   Written and Directed by Abbas Kiarostami

Since his beloved violin was broken, Nasser Ali Khan, one of the most renowned musicians of his day, has lost all taste for life. Finding no instrument worthy of replacing it, he decides to confine himself to bed to await death. Directed by Marjane Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud

Crushed by the contraband nature of music in theocratic Iran, a talented santour player is faced with poverty, addiction and his fractured marriage. Directed by Dariush Mehrjui

After twelve years of imprisonment by their own parents, two sisters are finally released by social workers to face the outside world for the first time. Directed by Samira Makhmalbaf

In Afghanistan, a young girl embarks on a journey to learn to read and write, only to be met with a series of obstacles including financial strain, a series of quests and a local gang of bullies pretending to be the Taliban. Directed by Hana Makhmalbaf

A drama about corruption and injustice in Iranian society. You are the oppressed, or you have to join the oppressor to survive. Written and Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof

Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, a university professor coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance. Written and Directed by Alireza Khatami

When an old couple washes their gabbeh rug - a young woman magically appears and tells them her life story. Written and Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf

When a large Iranian-American family gathers, a family secret is uncovered that catapults the estranged mother and daughter into an exploration of the past, and to discover they are more alike than they know. Written and Directed by Maryam Keshavarz

An Eastern European tourist unexpectedly finds himself stranded at JFK airport and must take up temporary residence there. Directed by Steven Spielberg

An unassuming mechanic is reminded of his time in an Iranian prison when he encounters a man he suspects to be his sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, he rounds up a few of his fellow ex-prisoners to confirm the man's identity. Directed by Jafar Panahi

A young widow returning to her village inherits an ancient sword no one will claim - until a warrior from the past arrives to retrieve it, only to fall in love with her instead. Written and Directed by Bahram Beyzaie

When an impoverished boy loses his sister shoes, the siblings are forced to secretly share his only pair, racing back and forth against school suspensions, and the discipline of their unforgiving father at home.   Directed by Majid Majidi

When Abdollah imbues a scarecrow with the likeness of a man, one by one the townspeople succumb to madness, as rumours swirl that it might actually be possessed. Directed by Bahman Farmanara

AKA, Anxiety (1976) is the story of an ex-con who's trying to make up for lost time with his wife and child, only for this new life of peace to be threatened by a racket of deceit and blackmail. We also discuss the phenomenon of the "Film Farsi" genre in more detail with special guest, Sina Dolati of Rangarang! Directed by Samuel Khachikian

An Iranian couple living in the US become trapped inside a hotel when insidious events force them to face the secrets that have come between them, in a night that never ends. Directed by Kourosh Ahari

Investigating reports of demonic possessions in a remote village, a skeptical military officer finds his beliefs tested by an enigmatic exorcist. Directed by Arsalan Amiri This film is available to watch on YouTube

Banned from making movies by the Iranian government, Jafar Panahi poses as a taxi driver and makes a movie about social challenges in Iran. Written and Directed by Jafar Panahi This film is available to view on Hoopla, or rent/own from Apple TV

A government tax auditor’s failing marriage unravels as his moral compromises at work mirror the growing alienation and mistrust in his home.   Written and Directed by Abbas Kiarostami This film is available to view on the Criterion Channel

In the wake of the Iranian Revolution, a prosperous Jewish family abandons everything before they are consumed by the passions of revolutionaries. Directed by Wayne Blair This film is available digitally in the USA from Fandango and in Canada through Plex and PlutoTV free with ads.

The honour Shahin and Shakoor, two brothers leading a powerful gang in the underbelly of Tehran, is brought into question when a video of their sister leaks, threatening to unravel not just their gang but their own family. Written and Directed by Houman Seyyedi This film is available to view on YouTube

In an attempt to raise money for his sick wife's medical care, an Afghan refugee partakes in a grueling exhibition where he must bike, non-stop for seven days and seven nights - battling hunger, exhaustion and enemies who stand to gain from his loss. Written and Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf. This film is available to view on YouTube.  

Law of Tehran aka Just 6.5 aka Metri Shish o Neem tells the story of Samad ( Payman Maadi ) a narcotics detective in pursuit of a shadow drug kingpin Naser Khakzad ( Navid Mohammadzadeh ). One day a raid leads to capturing a low level dealer who leads to a bigger fish, who is somehow connected to the notorious  drug lord . This film is available on Youtube . 

A precocious and outspoken Iranian girl grows up during the Islamic Revolution. Written & Directed by Marjane Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud

Two inept and unlucky blind men attempt a jewelry store robbery, setting off a chain of absurd, interwoven misadventures in a dryly comic tale about chance, failure, and the invisible threads between people.   Written & Directed by Shahram Mokri