Meeting the filmmaker: Mohammad Rasoulof

Picture of Abdelaziz Taleb

Abdelaziz Taleb

Filmmaker and Mixed media artist

What makes contemporary Iranian independent cinema so remarkable is its commitment to subtlety and metaphor. It steers clear of direct political statements or obvious messages, instead trusting the audience to pick up on the deeper critiques woven into the narrative. Mohammad Rasoulof is a shining example of this approach. In the midst of chaos, hardship, and the psychological barriers his characters face, there’s always room for poetry and an unshakable sense of humanity that refuses to be silenced.
 
Rasoulof’s style is simple and naturalistic. His camera doesn’t rely on flashy techniques no flashbacks, voice-overs, or dreamlike sequences. Instead, he focuses on the rawness of life, capturing a world full of contradictions with a quiet, steady hand. There’s a calming quality to his storytelling, almost like a gentle reassurance that says to the actors, the audience, and even the oppressive systems he critiques: It’s going to be okay. His films might lack conventional entertainment or high drama, but they leave you with something deeper a quiet reflection that lingers long after the credits roll.
 
Forget about politics, oppressive regimes, capitalism, or any grand narratives. If you love life, the small, quiet details that make it beautiful, you’ll fall in love with Mohammad Rasoulof’s cinema. It’s about the smell of the air, the whisper of the wind, the way a door opens or closes, the hum of an elevator, and all those subtle moments we often overlook. His films capture these fleeting details with such care and attention that they remind you of the poetry in …Us.

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