Best Iran documentary films in review

Capturing life, truth and reality, the best documentaries with scenes of nonfiction can shake us to our core while outstretching our worldview through experiences that are pathless.

Now, ifilm takes the top documentary films for its countdown list of the best-reviewed documentaries in Iran cinema.

1. 'Zero to Podium' by Sahar Mosayyebi

'Zero to Podium' documents the lives of three Iranian sisters who are Wushu fighters from a small town in Iran.

The Mansourian sisters have brought several international titles to Iran from different global and Asian martial arts competitions.

The biopic documentary film was picked as best film at the 10th Cinema Verite which was held in the Iranian capital city of Tehran.

'Zero to Podium' broke the record for the amount sold for a documentary at Iran 2017 box office.

2. ‘Instagramer’ by Sina Kianpour

The doc finds its focus at the new faces of fame in Instagram.

‘Instagramer’ deals with Insta celebs who have gained fame for sharing their colorful foods, luxurious excursions and enticing gathering events.   

Touching upon a new phenomenon with a fast-paced and contemplative form of narrative, ‘Instagramer’ takes a meticulous look at this new rise than what we actually discern in reality.  

3. ‘Send it to Mr. Banan’ by Zohreh Mohaqeq

Musicians are natural-born documentary subjects and Gholam Hossein Banan is no exception.

Banan is a big name in traditional Persian music. He is an accomplished pianist and vocalist who is still remembered by lovers of traditional Persian music. Among his best-remembered songs are ‘O’ Iran’, ‘Caravan’ and ‘Enchanting Goddess’.

‘Send it to Mr. Banan’ portrays his life and works through a letter which is written to him.

Banan’s wife, his stepson, some of his students and some other vocalists had an appearance in the doc.

4. 'Finding Farideh' co-directed by Azadeh Mousavi and Kourosh Ataei

'Finding Farideh' is about a woman who has been abandoned in the holy shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH) forty years ago. She was adopted by a Dutch family after being transferred to an orphanage.

She returns to Iran after 40 years looking for her biological parents.

The doc was also screened at the 35th Fajr Film Festival in Iran and was critically acclaimed and well received by the critics and audiences.

5. ‘About The Salesman’ co-directed by Vahid Sedaghat and Tahmineh Monzavi

‘The Salesman’ is Iran award-winner filmmaker Asghar Farhadi's seventh film that won two trophies for the Best Actor and Best Screenplay at Cannes Film Festival in 2016 and the academy award for the best Foreign Language Film in 2017.

‘About The Salesman’ is a documentary about Farhadi's method of filmmaking, development, pre-production, production, and post-production, with interviews with Asghar Farhadi and the analysis of the renowned Iranian and international film critics about ‘The Salesman ‘and Farhadi's cinema.

6. ‘Razmara: A Silent Case’ by Ehsan Emadi

‘Razmara: A Silent Case’ is a bold narrative of the mysterious murder of the military leader and former PM of Iran Ali Razmara and what led to his assassination and those involved in it.

Ehsan Emadi has well attempted to have an animated rebuild of the security interrogations in the past maintaining a totally neutral tone.   

Emadi’s production is an important attempt to make historical documentary films with spectacular and fascinating narratives that has been well received by audiences.

7. ‘Farshad: Mr. Goal’ by Jafar Sadeghi

The sport documentary is about Farshad Pious the legend of the Persepolis Football Club.

Pious is regarded as one of the best players in the history of Iranian football. He helped Persepolis win their only ever Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 1991.

He was named the Iranian Football League top scorer on seven occasions. He is also Persepolis' greatest ever scorer with 153 goals in 211 games.

‘Farshad: Mr. Goal’ is undoubtedly an appealing doc for football enthusiasts especially Persepolis fans.

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