By Greer Walby
These Persian films will leave you awe-inspired by Iran’s ancient land and atmosphere.
Often overlooked, Persian films offer some of the most cinematic landscapes to come across the big screens. From city to ruin and port to desert, these films traverse the country, capturing the beauty of one of the oldest inhabited lands. Here are five Iranian classics to get you started.
1. “Where is the Friend’s House?” (1987)
Abbas Kiarostami
“Where is the Friend's House?” is a unique cinematic journey that follows a schoolboy who treks through surrounding villages on a quest to return a classmate's notebook. Through the eyes of eight-year-old Ahmed, viewers experience rural Iranian society and its backdrop. Set in the northern province of Gilan around the village of Koker, what stands out about Iran's terrain in this film is the ancient ruins on which the villages rest. Spaced throughout the area are fruitful olive and citrus trees growing in proximity to the Mediterranean climate, all situated in the foothills of the Alborz Mountains.
If you find yourself wanting more of this scenery, you're in luck. “Where is the Friend's House?” is the first of writer and director Abbas Kiarostami’s three-part series, referred to as the “Koker” trilogy for the village around which all three films are set.
The full film is available on the Internet Archive.
2. “Taste of Cherry” (1997)
Abbas Kiarostami
The second Kiarostami film on this list, and one of the most famous Iranian films to date, “Taste of Cherry," is a Persian classic. Often revered as Kiarostami’s best work, this existentialist film follows a suicidal man, Mr. Badii, from Tehran, intent on finding someone to help bury him, particularly under a cherry tree, after he kills himself. What stands out is the contrast between the internal turmoil set against long shots of a seemingly peaceful Iranian countryside. Accompanied by date, pomegranate and fig trees, cherry trees are some of the most defining symbols of the rural Persian landscapes. These fruit trees and their growing grounds act as another character in the film, silently contributing to Mr. Badii's contemplation.
The full film is available on HBO Max.
3. “The Color of Paradise” (1999)
Majid Majidi
Another classic, “The Color of Paradise” is quintessential in exploring the beauty of Iran. The story rests on Mohammed, a blind boy who sees more vividly than anyone around him. Through his other four senses, viewers hear, smell, taste and, most importantly, feel Mohammed’s connection to his surroundings. Shot in only two locations in northern Iran, the film is defined by the flowered meadows, creeks and rolling fields of wheat characteristic of the area.
The full movie is available to stream on YouTube for free.
4. “Taxi” (2015)
Jafar Panahi
Out the car window of Jafar Panahi’s taxi, the viewer is immersed in the atmosphere of Tehran and its people. One of the oldest cities in the world, Tehran is Iran's capital and crown jewel. Its blend of the ancient with the modern is unlike any other city. In “Taxi,” Panahi helps viewers understand what makes Tehran functional, capturing its spirit through stories told by his passengers. The film, like its location, has a unique origin story; the premise of the docu-fiction came about out of necessity for Panahi, as he was banned by the government from making traditional movies. In this film, Panahi stars as the driver as well as the director, capturing the whole thing through hidden cameras. While “Taxi” doesn’t display the Iranian landscapes themselves, there are few other films that capture the heart of the country quite like this one. It debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2015, where it won the Golden Bear prize. Panahi received similar accolades for the work at other film festivals, including TIFF.
The full movie is available to stream on Kino Film Collection through a free trial.
5. “Hit the Road” (2021)
Panah Panahi
The most recent release from this list, “Hit the Road,” focuses on a family of four’s road trip through Iran's countryside. Son and collaborator of the previously mentioned Jafar Panahi, Panah Panahi makes his filmmaking debut in this stunning feature. Driving across the north of the country towards the Azerbaijan-Iran border, the cinematography, courtesy of Amin Jafari, stands out in capturing the landscape’s vast beauty. Shots of the highway in a sea of arid desert sweep the screen, interrupted only by the energetic younger brother popping his head out of the car sunroof. Just as much as the desert populates the screen are the green meadows of the north lush and expansive. In one notable moment, the scenery of Lake Urmia, once Iran's largest salt lake, is pictured in its dried-up state. As the family makes their way across the country, the changing scenery inspires reflection on a journey whose destination is a secret new beginning.
“Hit the Road” is available to stream on both Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
Greer Walby
Greer is a student at The New School studying the Environment and Economics. She is passionate about the intersection between environmental and social justice and finding ways to bridge the disconnect between ourselves, the economy and the environment. She hopes to pursue journalism and documentary to further communicate those efforts.