Fresh
Like the great Iranian filmmakers, Rasoulof has no use for the artificiality of heightened drama. He opts, instead, for a more universal humanism, which is a better teaching tool.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Overview
Squatters live on a mothballed oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. The children attend a school on board; men harvest scrap metal and old oil in the hull; women keep house and raise children and Captain Nemat runs it all with an iron hand. We follow a lad who rescues fish trapped in the hull, an old man who stares at the sun, the idealistic teacher, and Ahmad, the Captain's assistant who has fallen in love with a young woman whose father wants to marry her to someone of means. What future has this sinking city?
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
97%
Tomatometer
Fresh
A galloping fable full of offbeat characters and entertaining moments.
Deborah Young, Variety
Fresh
A captivating socio-political allegory with the air of satire as well as fable, Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof's Iron Island has an Orwellian sting.
Tom Keogh, Seattle Times
Fresh
This is a potent social allegory from Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, told with humor and a feeling of mystery.
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
Fresh
Dramatically engrossing and visually enthralling.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
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