An impressive piece of work, especially considering it was made in a barren artistic climate overseen by a censorious government.
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The Circle
Overview
Various women struggle to function in the oppressively sexist society of contemporary Iran.
Director and cast
- Jafar Panahi Director
- Nargess Mamizadeh as Nargess
- Maryiam Palvin Almani as Arezou (as Maryam Parvin Almani)
- Mojgan Faramarzi as Mojgan - Prostitute
- Elham Saboktakin as Elham - Nurse
- Monir Arab as Monir - Ticket Seller
- Maede Tahmasbi as Maedeh (as Maedeh Tahmasbi)
- Maryam Shayegan as Parveneh
- Fereshteh Sadr Orafaee as Pari
- Solmaz Panahi Cast
- Fatemeh Naghavi Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
Just like Tomb Raider, it is fiction. It just unfortunately comes a lot closer than the American film to the truth of how its female characters live.
A memorable and devastating indictment of the oppression facing many women in Iran.
In its brisk way, it's a devastating piece of work, and very brave too.
Profoundly dangerous to the status quo in Iran because it asks us to identify with the plight of women who have done nothing wrong except to be female.
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