群羊

What, really, an Iranian gangster drama? It’s true, we’re not joking. It can be called that. There is even a hint of "The Sopranos", although the action is set in a Teheran slum. It is also something very special in the context of Iran – in a country where 150 films are made a year. The overwhelmingly strong audience award from the national film competition of the Fajr Film Festival only goes to prove that. 　　Shahin, a loud-mouth fellow adopted years ago, is trying to establish his authority in a family run by the iron hand of his drug lord brother. When a phone-filmed video of their sister showing her hair to a strange man – a grave sin in that society – starts circulating, things get really crazy. The family’s honour becomes more important than any person. Can a sheep who has obeyed the shepherd’s crook all his life even become anything more – someone who decides on his own life and does not need a shepherd? How does the herd mentality actually influence our life? 　　A film with serious social undertones, in which our good old friend Navid Mohammadzadeh, who visited Tallinn last year, pulls off a transformation trick for the likes of which Oscars are awarded. His contradictory character inspires both anger and pity – a true master class of acting! This is worth casting aside any possible prejudice you might have towards Iranian film should be cast aside – you can only gain from this film! 　　Tiit Tuumalu