A fascinating allegory of modern-day Iran.

| Jul 13, 2022

The film is most effective in examining the resilience of the human spirit even as one's ship is sinking.

| Original Score: 2.5/4.0 | Sep 12, 2020

Visually pleasing in its mythic images, and it's heartfelt narrative is both stirring and poetic.

| Original Score: B | May 4, 2010

This resonant fable proves again that art flourishes in unlikely places, under the most restrictive conditions.

| Feb 22, 2007

Like the great Iranian filmmakers, Rasoulof has no use for the artificiality of heightened drama. He opts, instead, for a more universal humanism, which is a better teaching tool.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 25, 2006

A galloping fable full of offbeat characters and entertaining moments.

| Jul 21, 2006

A captivating socio-political allegory with the air of satire as well as fable, Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof's Iron Island has an Orwellian sting.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 21, 2006

But behind the utopian fairy tale is the genial authoritarianism... Ambivalence has rarely been made so lyrical and lovely.

| Original Score: A | Jul 20, 2006

Conflicts, contrasts and apparent paradoxes lap away under the surface, beautifully shot by cinematographer Reza Jallali . . . Iron Island has an eerie, elemental beauty.

Full Review | Jul 13, 2006

This is a potent social allegory from Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, told with humor and a feeling of mystery.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 30, 2006

Dramatically engrossing and visually enthralling.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jun 22, 2006

The graceful film by Mohammad Rasoulof balances the residents' humdrum daily lives with magical, dreamlike moments that provide hope where hope often has no place.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 26, 2006

'Iron Island' provides no comforting answers, choosing instead to remain ambiguous...

| May 23, 2006

Iran's recent growlings under its new president make such a film as Iron Island all the more remarkable.

Full Review | Apr 21, 2006

A harrowing, one-of-a-kind movie.

| Original Score: A- | Apr 21, 2006

There is a whole teeming city on this derelict boat, and watching everyone doing their jobs (many of which involve taking the ship apart and selling the pieces as scrap metal) is quite involving.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 20, 2006

A thrilling example of the cunning political allegory woven into vivid concretism that invigorates contemporary Iranian cinema.

Full Review | Apr 20, 2006

A powerful political allegory.

Full Review | Apr 19, 2006

This is what cinema is about. Taking the viewer into a completely alien world and trying to make some sense out of it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 6, 2006

Despite technical and story deficiencies, this is a film that's as well intentioned as its complex central figure.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 5, 2006