One of the slowest most boring and pretentious and stupid movies I've ever seen. Definitely one of the worst directors ever too. Anyone who watches the first 30 minutes and decides to continue watching needs to be checked for brain damage and I swear I mean that in all seriousness, actually go check for brain damage if you liked this movie. 0 stars.

Intenso ed emozionante dramma suddiviso in quattro storie, tutte legate all'applicazione della pena di morte in Iran e alle sue conseguenze per le forze dell'ordine che sono costrette a lavorare in quell'ambito. La scelta del regista è di costruire 4 differenti trame, tutte con protagonisti dei militari o ex tali e delle dolorose scelte a cui devono sottostare per la sopravvivenza con annesse ed altrettanto dure conseguenze. Senza dubbio le prime due storie sono quelle a maggior impatto; due militari e due trame agli antipodi che a loro modo incollano allo schermo e colpiscono nel segno. Le seconde due trame, pur di qualità, puntano maggiormente sulle conseguenze interiori delle scelte fatte, ed essendo poste consecutivamente dopo già un'ora di film, sono leggermente più difficili da seguire. Film meraviglioso per accuratezza e per il rapporto tra delicatezza e durezza del mondo Iraniano. Sceneggiatura splendida.

After winning the top prize at the 2022 Berlinale festival, director Mohammad Rasoulof was ordered to serve a one-year prison sentence; for producing, what the state considers, "propaganda against the system."

Best film on the death penalty since Dead Man Walking, though it's more about making choices in life, and be responsible for them.

This is not a film for all the family anymore than it is grim faced mullahs. Nor is it, God forbid, a date movie. It is a serious, adult (in the true sense, not a euphemism) film about a very serious subject. It works as drama and asks all of us the most profound of questions. Over the years l have seen a number of Iranian films. This is by far the best. For me, a masterpiece.

Filmed entirely in Iran, without the knowledge or permission of the government, the film presents four stories centered around executioners who take on this task as part of their military service. Iran's enthusiasm for capital punishment gets exposed in terms of its impact on both its soldiers and citizens. Each story is well acted and coherent, presenting four different takes on the dire consequences that befall executioners and those who love them. I would give the film higher marks if the director had not so scrupulously avoided the Islamic "honor" killings that routinely cause family members to murder each other.

A bit overlong and repetitive but very beautifully shot and well acted. Could easily trim 45 min and make it much better