People caught in challenging situations are focus of Iranian cinema at Diff’10

The seventh edition of the Dubai International Film Festival has two powerful films from Iran that tell us the stories of people caught in challenging situations.

The House Under the Water

Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi’s feature film, ‘The House Under the Water (Khaneye Zire Ab)’ marks its World Premiere at Diff, on Friday, Dec. 17, 6pm at Cinestar 2, MoE. The film follows two teenagers, Morteza and Taher, who are involved in the accidental drowning of Taher’s younger brother. Thirty years later, Morteza is freshly released from prison and looking to rebuild his life when he is suspected in a death of another drowned child – and Taher, now a police officer, is investigating. The film will also be screened on Dec. 18, 3.15pm at Cinestar 6.

Director Mohsen Abdolvahab debuts with ‘Please Do Not Disturb,’ tells three stories that take place in Tehran, Iran. In the first story, an young woman who has been beaten by her husband. The woman is about to complain to the authorities, but the husband is concerned about his job and the embarrassment. The next story is about a clergyman whose wallet and documents have been stolen. The clergyman enters into a complicated negotiation with the thief. The last story is about an elderly couple whose TV has broken. The couple are alone in the building and are afraid of opening the door to the young repairman. The film will be screened on Friday 8.30pm at Cinestar 3.

The Hunter

‘The Hunter,’ from Iranian director Rafi Pitts of ‘Season Five’ and ‘Sanam’ fame, follows a Tehrani man who snaps and turns sniper after losing his wife and six-year-old daughter in the run-up to Iran’s disputed 2009 elections. The film, a Gulf premiere, will be screened on Dec. 18, 9pm at Cinestar 1, and on Dec. 19, 2.45pm at Cinestar 9.

Shahin Parhami’s documentary ‘Amin’ is a journey of discovery into the heartlands of Iran and the slowly disappearing folk music of the ancient Qashqai tribes of southern Iran. The film is a powerful meditation on cultural loss through the eyes of a postgraduate music student on a quest to find himself. The film, a Middle East premiere, will be screened Friday, 3.30pm at Cinestar 7.