Iran – Stream On Demand

‘Where Is the Friend’s House?’ – Abbas Kiarostami’s first childhood odyssey on Criterion Channel

!Featured, Blu-ray, childhood, Criterion Channel, drama, DVD, family friendly, International Cinema 03/08/2023 Sean Axmaker

The debut dramatic feature from the Iranian filmmaking master is a sweet and simple story of childhood in rural Koker.

‘Children of Heaven’ – an Iranian tale of childhood on Prime Video

!Featured, Academy Award nominee, Amazon Prime Video, childhood, drama, DVD, family friendly, International Cinema, Kid Stuff, SVOD 02/03/2023 Sean Axmaker

Majid Majidi’s tender and sweet 1999 story of young siblings whose loyalty to each other and joyous embrace of life help overcome their impoverished lives became the first Iranian film to earn an Oscar nomination.

Juliette Binoche and William Shimell star in Abbas Kiarostami's first European production

‘Certified Copy’ on Criterion Channel and free on Kanopy

!Featured, Blu-ray, Cannes winner, Criterion, Criterion Channel, drama, DVD, Free, International Cinema, Kanopy, Romance 05/29/2022 Sean Axmaker

Juliette Binoche stars in the first European feature by Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami, an impressionistic film that debates art and authenticity against an unusual romance that plays out a lifetime over one day in Italy.

Mohammad Rasoulof directs this Iranian thriller

‘Manuscripts Don’t Burn’ on Amazon Prime

!Featured, Amazon Prime Video, Cannes winner, drama, DVD, International Cinema, socially aware cinema, SVOD 09/05/2019 Sean Axmaker

What’s most startling about Mohammad Rasoulof’s Iranian thriller Manuscripts Don’t Burn (Iran, 2013, not rated, with subtitles) is its audacity. Iranian filmmakers have a history of couching their criticisms of life in Iran in metaphor. This film puts its portrait of authoritarian oppression out in the open. We open on a contract murder that plays like […]

Jafar Panahi’s ‘3 Faces’ free on Kanopy

!Featured, Blu-ray, Cannes winner, drama, DVD, Free, International Cinema, Kanopy, road movie, SVOD 08/19/2019 Sean Axmaker

In 2010, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was arrested and charged for “Propaganda against the Iranian government.” His sentence: he was forbidden to leave Iran or make any films for 20 years. 3 Faces (Iran, 2018) is the fourth feature he has made since the sentence was passed. And once again Panahi plays himself on screen, […]

Taraneh Alidoosti in Asghar Farhadi's 'About Elly' from Iran

‘About Elly’ on Kanopy

!Featured, Blu-ray, drama, DVD, Free, International Cinema, Kanopy 02/02/2019 Sean Axmaker

Before he won the Academy Award for Foreign Language film for A Separation, the first Iranian film to win an Oscar, Asghar Farhadi made About Elly (Iran, 2009), a compelling mix of mystery and social drama. Set over a family seaside vacation with three close-knit couples and their young children, this is a portrait of […]

Taraneh Alidoosti and Shahab Hosseini star in Asghar Farhadi's Oscar-winning drama

What to stream: ‘The Salesman’ and the Dead on Amazon Prime plus superheroes, Oscar winners, and more

!Featured, Academy Award, Acorn TV, Amazon Prime Video, Criterion Channel, Google Play, Hulu, Netflix, On Demand, Streaming Movies, SVOD, What to Stream 06/02/2017 Sean Axmaker

Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film in 2012, making him the first Iranian filmmaker to win an Oscar. He won his second Oscar for The Salesman (2016), a provocative story of violence, trauma, and vengeance would around a stage production of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.” Shahab Hosseini […]

Jafar Panahi in the driver's seat of 'Taxi' from Iran

Jafar Panahi’s ‘Taxi’ on Netflix

!Featured, International Cinema, Netflix 03/02/2016 Sean Axmaker

Jafar Panahi’s Taxi carries only one acting credit, that of Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who is quite literally in the driver’s seat of this guerilla film made on the streets of Tehran. It’s not a matter of ego—Panahi comes off as the most modest of filmmakers—but protection. This is the third film that Panahi has […]