Tehran Taboo : تهران تابو : is a Persian-language animated film directed by Ali Soozandeh, released in 2017. A co-production between Germany and Austria, the film was featured in the Critics' Week section of the 70th Cannes Film Festival.
Storyline:
The film concurrently narrates the lives of several individuals residing in Tehran, highlighting how each faces crises related to sexual issues within society. Pari (played by Elmira Rafizadeh) resorts to prostitution to support herself and her five-year-old child, who is unable to speak. Babak (Arash Marandi), a music student, is pressured by his girlfriend, Donya (Negar Nasseri), to fund her virginity restoration surgery. Meanwhile, Sara (Zahra Amir Ebrahimi) strives to conform to the societal expectations of a submissive wife, always obedient to her husband.
Reception:
Some Persian-language media outlets in Europe and America have described the film as "taboo-breaking," while others criticize it for perpetuating stereotypes about Iranian society. [Source needed]
Cast:
Elmira Rafizadeh as Pari
Arash Marandi as Babak
Morteza Tavakoli as Amir
Zahra Amir Ebrahimi as Sara
Alireza Bayram as Mohsen
Shiler Elooloo as Sara's mother-in-law
Roxana Rahnama as the doctor's assistant
This film dives into the complex web of gender, sexuality, and societal pressures in Tehran, delivering a bold narrative that challenges the status quo and invites discussion on pressing societal issues.
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