Leila's Brothers
In this award-winning Iranian family drama Leila discovers that her father, while his family is burdened by debts, is hiding money to become patriarch of the local clan.
Despite the strict censorship of the local regime, Iranian cinema is flourishing. Earlier this year, Lumière screened NO BEARS by Jafar Panahi, and now it’s time for LEILA'S BROTHERS, winner of the Fipresci Prize (an award for the best film in competition, as chosen by a panel of international film critics) at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. In this epic family drama, we follow the tragicomic fortunes of an average lower-middle-class family. It is the unmarried Leila who ensures that her family members – her parents and four brothers – keep their heads above water. The rogue trades of her brothers are already worrying enough, but then Leila discovers that her father is secretly hiding money because he wants to become patriarch of the local clan.
With LEILA’S BROTHERS, director Saeed Roustayi (JUST 6.5) paints a devastating picture of the patriarchal Iranian society: incompetent and corrupt men who are stuck in backward traditions, call all the shots; women get ignored. That the film is banned in its home country will not surprise anyone.
In December 2022, lead actress Taraneh Alidoosti (known from Asghar Farhadi’s films) was detained by Iranian authorities for expressing her support for the demonstrations in her home country via Instagram. She has recently been released on bail. (mv)