The Persian Version Explained

Director:Maryam Keshavarz
Music:Rostam Batmanglij
Cinematography:André Jäger
Runtime:107 minutes[1]
Country:United States
Gross:$559,820[2]

The Persian Version is a 2023 American comedy drama film directed and written by Maryam Keshavarz. The film stars Layla Mohammadi, Niousha Noor, Bijan Daneshmand, Bella Warda, and Tom Byrne. It follows the struggles of a young Iranian-American woman who is often at odds with her family, particularly with her mother.

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023, where it won two awards, including the Audience Award for the U.S. Dramatic Competition. It had a limited theatrical release in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics and Stage 6 Films on October 20, 2023. It received positive reviews from critics and was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2023 by the National Board of Review.[3]

Plot

A young Iranian-American filmmaker named Leila has a one-night stand with Maximillian, an actor who is appearing on stage in the title role of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. She subsequently finds out that she's pregnant.

Leila's father Ali Reza has a serious medical condition that requires him to undergo a heart transplant operation. This crisis prompts a reunion of Leila's large family (she has eight brothers).

Leila clashes with her mother Shireen and spends time with her grandmother. In an extended flashback set in Iran, Shireen gets married at a young age to Ali Reza.

Release

The Persian Version had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023. It received a standing ovation from the audience.[4] Shortly after, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film.[5]

The film was for a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 20, 2023.[6] It was previously set for October 13,[7] before being moved a week later to avoid competition with the concert film . It is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2024.[1]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 84% of 80 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "A vibrant portrait of culture clashes and generation gaps, The Persian Version gains added resonance through its spirited specificity."[8] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9]

Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com called the film "an ebullient rule-breaker" and said it was "one of the most entertaining and moving experiences I've had at Sundance this year."[10]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Sundance Film FestivalJanuary 27, 2023Grand Jury Prize - U.S. Dramatic CompetitionThe Persian Version[11] [12] [13]
Audience Award - U.S. Dramatic Competition
Waldo Salt Screenwriting AwardMaryam Keshavarz
Calgary International Film FestivalOctober 3, 2023Audience Choice Award, International Narrative FeatureThe Persian Version[14]
Astra Film AwardsJanuary 6, 2024Best International ActressLayla Mohammadi[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: November 14, 2023. The Persian Version (15) . November 14, 2023 . British Board of Film Classification.
  2. The Persian Version. 22 December 2023.
  3. Web site: Lewis . Hilary . 2023-12-06 . National Board of Review Names 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Best Film of 2023 . 2023-12-06 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  4. Web site: 'The Persian Version' Director Maryam Keshavarz Chose Comedy "Because No Regime Can Extinguish Joy" – Sundance Studio. Deadline Hollywood. January 28, 2023. January 22, 2023. Jill. Goldsmith.
  5. Web site: Sony Pictures Classics Picks Up Sundance Winner 'The Persian Version'. Deadline Hollywood. Anthony. D’Alessandro. February 3, 2023. February 3, 2023.
  6. Web site: Taylor Swift's Concert Film Has Changed the Theatrical Release Dates of Five Movies — So Far. IndieWire. Chapman. Wilson. September 8, 2023. September 9, 2023.
  7. 1691472315333132290. Khafe sho, everybody Watch the trailer for #ThePersianVersion, only in theaters October 13 in NY & LA. Coming soon to a theater near you.. sonyclassics. Sony Pictures Classics. August 15, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  8. Web site: The Persian Version . December 6, 2023 . Rotten Tomatoes.
  9. Web site: The Persian Version Reviews. October 26, 2023 . Metacritic.
  10. Web site: Allen . Nick . January 27, 2023 . Sundance 2023: The Persian Version, Mutt Festivals & Awards . 2023-02-03 . RogerEbert.com.
  11. Web site: 'A Thousand and One,' 'The Persian Version' & More Win Sundance Film Festival Awards. Collider. Christopher. McPherson. January 27, 2023. January 28, 2023.
  12. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-persian-version-sundance-winner-2023-sony-theaters-1235316932/ Sundance Winner ‘The Persian Version’ Lands at Sony Pictures Classics - The Hollywood Reporter
  13. https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-persian-version-sundance-review/5178600.article Sundance review on Screen Daily
  14. https://livewirecalgary.com/2023/10/03/summer-qamp-drawing-a-life-audience-favourites-at-ciff/ "Summer Qamp, Drawing a Life audience favourites at CIFF"
  15. Web site: 2023-12-07 . Newly Rebranded Hollywood Creative Alliance Announce Nominations for the 2024 Astra Awards . 2024-01-07 . Awardsdaily . en-US.