TEHRAN-Six Iranian films will go on screen at the 22nd edition of Pune International Film Festival, which will be held in the Indian city from January 18 to 25.

“Terrestrial Verses”, co-directed by Alireza Khatami and Ali Asgari, will go on screen at the main section of the festival. 

The film begins with a controversy over the naming of an infant and moves through stories of everyday people facing off against the system, from a frustrated, politically censored filmmaker to a teenage girl who – in one of the film’s most daring episodes – confronts her school after being caught with a boy on a motorcycle.

“Winners” by Iranian-British director Hassan Nazer, “Achilles” by Farhad Delaram, “The Wastetown” by Ahmad Bahrami, “Dustland” by Kazem Daneshi, and “Ropewalker Memories” by Hamed Rajabi will be competing at the Global Cinema section of the event. 

Set in a poor Iranian village, the story of “Winners” is about children who work hard to support their families. Their little hands scour through massive piles of junk in search of hidden treasures. One day, nine-year-old Yahya and his friend Leila find a precious golden statue. Sharing a passion for cinema, Yahya’s boss Nasser Khan decides to help them find the owner as the curious item leads Yahya on an adventure-filled journey that doubles as a loving ode to the history of Iranian cinema.

The 2023 drama, “Achilles”, tells the story of a young filmmaker who currently works in a hospital and takes a mental patient out for a short ride to find out who she really is. Now he has to decide whether to run away with her or take her back to the hospital.

The 98-minute “The Wastetown” tells the story of Bemani, a woman who has spent ten years in jail for killing her husband. Her child was taken away from prison and allegedly given to her husband’s family. Temporarily released, she immediately starts looking for her son. 

“Dustland” is about truth and secrets. The truth carries a heavy burden, whether it is said that it sets off a storm, or it remains in the heart that disturbs man. Between telling the truth and revealing a secret or being silent and expedient, one is preferable to the other.

“Ropewalker Memories” is about a young man and his father, who share a close living arrangement in the same apartment. Despite his son's objections, the father invites sex workers into their home. One day, he brings home a woman who refuses to leave. Both father and son join forces to persuade her to depart. However, when she finally departs of her own accord, her absence becomes unbearable for the two men.

The festival will also screen “Kiarostami at Work” by Seifollah Samadian at its documentary section. 

A 2023 production, “Kiarostami at Work” is a 76-minute documentary about the late Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, which is directed, edited, and produced by Kiarostami’s longtime friend and collaborator Samadian.

“Kiarostami at Work” is a documentary showcasing the filmmaker’s boundless passion for work and creativity. The film features images captured by Samadian during their thirty years of friendship and travels together, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of “Shirin” and “Certified Copy” by the late Hamideh Razavi, and “Taste of Cherry” by Bahman Kiarostami. Juliette Binoche, Martin Scorsese, and some others have also shared insights into Kiarostami’s creative works in the movie.

Photo: A scene from “Dustland” by Kazem Daneshi

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