Overview
A striking animated exploration of the hidden struggles faced by women in contemporary Iran.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- confrontational
- bracing
- politically charged
- political film night
- arthouse viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a brisk, audacious, and politically forceful portrait of Iranian gendered double standards, while finding its approach overtly confrontational and occasionally excessive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film uses rotoscope animation to render contemporary Tehran and its characters with unusually tactile, realistic movement.
The stories of Pari, Sara, and other women converge with the young musician Babak’s experiences across Tehran.
The plot repeatedly contrasts male privilege with women’s exposure to legal, sexual, and familial control.
Bustling contemporary Tehran contains religious courts, nightlife, illicit sex, drugs, and everyday efforts to evade prohibition.
Films like Tehran Taboo, and why
Waltz with Bashir
socially incisive animated drama using stylized imagery to examine repression and personal freedom
The Circle
politically confrontational Iranian drama centered on women constrained by religious and legal systems
A Separation
contemporary Iranian social drama exposing institutional hypocrisy and gender inequality
The Salesman
intersecting urban narratives portraying marginalized women and oppressive social structures
Movie Details
- Director
- Ali Soozandeh
- Release Date
- 2017-10-04
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (106)
Cast
- Arash Marandi
- Alireza Bayram
- Şiir Eloğlu
- Zar Amir Ebrahimi
- Klaus Ofczarek
- Morteza Tavakoli
- Gernot Polak
- Hasan Ali Mete
- Roxana Rahnama
- Thomas Nash
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Kino Film Collection
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Tehran Taboo about?
- A bold rotoscope portrait of women and a young musician navigating Tehran’s collision of religious law, private desire, and institutional hypocrisy.
- What is Tehran Taboo like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tehran Taboo as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Tehran Taboo violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Tehran Taboo as mild.
- What did critics think of Tehran Taboo?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a brisk, audacious, and politically forceful portrait of Iranian gendered double standards, while finding its approach overtly confrontational and occasionally excessive.
- Which films are like Tehran Taboo?
- Films with a similar feel include Waltz with Bashir, The Circle, A Separation, and The Salesman.
- How long is Tehran Taboo?
- Tehran Taboo runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tehran Taboo?
- In United States, Tehran Taboo streams on Kino Film Collection.
