"Review of 'Mortician': Delicate, gradual drama portrays the lives of two Iranian refugees in Canada"
In the heart of Canada, a new drama unfolds, as the Iranian film "Mortician" (2025) premieres at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. This thought-provoking production, directed by Abdolreza Kahani, delves into the lives of exiles and their struggle against the long reach of Iran's regime.
At the centre of the story is Mojtaba, an Iranian mortician who leads a solitary life, working tirelessly to send money back to his family in Iran. His world takes a dramatic turn when he encounters Jana, an exiled Iranian singer and activist, who asks him to prepare for her death in a unique and politically charged manner.
Mojtaba, played by Nima Sadr, initially finds Jana's request difficult to accept, given his pious principles and the cultural taboos involved. However, as the story unfolds, he finds himself drawn into a complex web of emotions and moral dilemmas.
Jana, portrayed by Golazin Ardestani, better known as Gola, is a well-known dissident who uses her voice and social media to expose repression. Her character embodies resistance and activism, providing a stark contrast to Mojtaba's detached life in Canada.
The film's background revolves around the Iranian diaspora in Canada, exploring the emotional and physical distance from their homeland while coping with political repression remotely. The protagonist Mojtaba is disconnected from his culture and struggles with loneliness and a sense of displacement, which is deepened by his encounter with Jana.
The main themes of the film include isolation and displacement, political protest and resistance, human connection and compassion, the power of art and activism, and mortality and ritual. The film uses quiet, intimate storytelling with dreamlike cinematography to portray the nuanced emotions and tensions that exist between silences and words, embodying isolation, fear, hope, and defiance.
The music for "Mortician" is composed by Gola and Schubert Avakian, adding another layer of depth to the film's emotional narrative.
As the drama unfolds, the story becomes more impactful, with the stakes rising as Mojtaba and Jana's bond deepens. Gola's real-life experience of surveillance and threat serves as inspiration for the film, lending an air of authenticity to the narrative.
Produced by Niva Art, "Mortician" is a quietly powerful and emotionally intimate film that explores exile, political struggle, and human connection through the lives of an Iranian mortician and a dissident singer in Canada.
For those interested in international sales for "Mortician", please contact [email protected].
[1] The film's runtime is 94 minutes. [2] Mojtaba agrees to work with Jana despite some of her ideas clashing with his pious principles. [3] Mojtaba is a specialist in washing corpses before burial, following Islamic tradition. [4] Jana asks Mojtaba to wash her body when she dies. [5] The main cast of "Mortician" includes Nima Sadr, Gola, Pouya Razavi, and Erfan Bokaei. [6] The film "Mortician" evokes the darkest aspects of exile, particularly for those facing punitive reprisals. [7] "Mortician" premieres at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. [8] Abdolreza Kahani is the producer, screenplay writer, cinematographer, and editor of "Mortician".
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