Tehran Taboo

In this gorgeously animated drama, the lives of several strong-willed women and a young musician intersect. Their stories reveal the hypocrisies of modern Iranian society,... Read more

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Tehran Taboo

Directed by Ali Soozandeh

Year: 2018
Running Time: 96
Color Type: Color
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Country: Germany, Austria
Language: Farsi with English Subtitles
Genres: Drama, Animation
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Tehran Taboo

Cast
Elmira Rafizadeh
Zar Amir Ebrahimi
Arash Marandi
Bilal Yasar
Negar Mona Alizadeh
Payam Madjilessi

Crew
Directed by Ali Soozandeh
Sound Janis Grossman
Editors Andrea Mertens and Frank Geiger
Cinematographer Martin Gschlacht
Writer Ali Soozandeh
Composed by Ali N. Askin


In this gorgeously animated drama, the lives of several strong-willed women and a young musician intersect. Their stories reveal the hypocrisies of modern Iranian society, where sex, drugs, and corruption coexist with strict religious law. In the bustling metropolis of Tehran, avoiding prohibitions has become an everyday sport and breaking taboos can be a means of personal emancipation. Nevertheless, women invariably end up on the bottom rung of the social order. A young woman needs an operation to “restore” her virginity. A judge in the Islamic Revolutionary Court exhorts favors from a prostitute in exchange for a favorable ruling. The wife of an imprisoned drug addict is denied the divorce she needs in order to live independently. Making use of rotoscope animation, expat Iranian filmmaker Ali Soozandeh creates a portrait of contemporary Tehran that would be impossible by any other means.

Reviews

“Brisk and bracing. Lays bare the double standards that surround sex in Iran.”

– Ben Keningsberg, The New York Times

"Engaging and nuanced. Using skillful, involving storytelling and beautifully executed rotoscoped photography, director Ali Soozandeh creates a world of intersecting urban miseries and challenges."

– Godfrey Cheshire, RogerEbert.com

"Striking. Sex, rage, and hypocrisy percolate... throughout every scene."

– Diego Semerene, Slant Magazine

“A beautifully rotoscoped drama with intertwining stories set against the cognitively dissonant clash of Iran’s strict, theocratic society and the every-day realities of sex, drugs and corruption.”

– Michael Ordona, Los Angeles Times

“A spellbinding animated journey into the underbelly of Iranian society.”

– E. Nina Rothe, The Huffington Post

“Visually striking. This wily account of 20-something Iranians negotiating an assault course of laws and prohibitions to get their kicks fizzes with energy and bad behaviour.”

– Wendy Ide, Screen International

“An audacious debut. Explore[s] the highly charged theme of sexual and personal freedom in Iran without salaciousness.”

– Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter

“A transgressive explosion. Delivers a stunning penetration into the very disturbed hidden face of daily life in the Iranian capital.”

– Fabien Lamercier, Cineuropa


Awards

  • Official Selection – Cannes Critics' Week

  • FIPRESCI Prize - Best debut, Jerusalem Film Festival

Press Kit

Hi-Res Poster

Hi-Res Images

Trailer Embed Code

Interested in bringing Tehran Taboo to your school or library? If you'd like to have an in-class viewing, on-campus screening, or purchase the DVD for your library's collection, please contact Estelle Grosso at EDU@kinolorber.com or call (212) 629-6880 with your request.

Tehran Taboo may also be available with Public Performance Rights (PPR) and Digital Site Licensing (DSL) for colleges and universities. To purchase the DVD with PPR or DSL, please contact Estelle Grosso at EDU@kinolorber.com or call (212) 629-6880. Click here to learn more at Kino Lorber Edu.

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A scene from <i>Tehran Taboo</i>, courtesy Kino Lorber.
A scene from <i>Tehran Taboo</i>, courtesy Kino Lorber.
A scene from <i>Tehran Taboo</i>, courtesy Kino Lorber.
A scene from <i>Tehran Taboo</i>, courtesy Kino Lorber.
A scene from <i>Tehran Taboo</i>, courtesy Kino Lorber.
A scene from <i>Tehran Taboo</i>, courtesy Kino Lorber.
A scene from <i>Tehran Taboo</i>, courtesy Kino Lorber.
Director Ali Soozandeh, courtesy Kino Lorber.

PLAYDATES

Venue City Date
Denver Film Society Denver 1545109200December 18 - December 22, 2018
Wexner Center for the Arts Columbus 1524715200April 26, 2018
Laemmle Town Center 5 Encino 1520571600March 9 - March 15, 2018
Laemmle Music Hall 3 Los Angeles 1520571600March 9 - March 15, 2018
Real Art Ways Hartford 1520571600March 9 - March 15, 2018
The Guild Cinema Albuquerque 1520571600March 9 - March 11, 2018
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Union Theatre) Milwaukee 1520571600March 9 - March 10, 2018
AFI Silver Theatre Silver Spring 1520312400March 6, 2018
Varsity Theatre - Davis Davis 1519966800March 2 - March 8, 2018
Roxie Theater San Francisco 1519966800March 2 - March 8, 2018
Gene Siskel Film Center Chicago 1519362000February 23 - March 1, 2018
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Boston 1518757200February 16 - February 28, 2018
Portland International Film Festival Portland 1518670800February 15 - March 1, 2018
Film Forum New York 1518584400February 14 - February 27, 2018
Spokane International Film Festival Spokane 1517893200February 6, 2018
Smithsonian Institution Washington 1517461200February 1, 2018
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Houston 1516424400January 20, 2018
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Boston 1515646800January 11 - January 12, 2018
Palm Springs International Animation Festival Palm Springs 1510376400November 11, 2017
Virginia Film Festival Charlottesville 1510203600November 9, 2017
Vancouver Int'l Film Festival Vancouver 1506657600September 29, 2017


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