The Witness | |
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Directed by | Nader Saeivar |
Written by | Jafar Panahi Nader Saeivar |
Produced by | Said Nur Akkuş Silvana Santamaria Arash T. Riahi Sabine Gruber |
Starring | Maryam Bobani |
Cinematography | Rozbeh Raeigha |
Edited by | Jafar Panahi |
Music by | Karwan Marouf |
Release date |
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Countries | Austria Germany |
Language | Persian |
The Witness (originally titled Shahed) is a 2024 Austrian-German crime-drama film co-written and directed by Nader Saeivar. It is the first film project of Jafar Panahi, here serving as screenwriter, editor and artistic consultant, following his 2022 incarceration. [1] [2]
The film, inspired by the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, [3] premiered at the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in the Horizons Extra sidebar, where it won the Audience Award. [4] [5]
In today’s Iran, retired schoolteacher Tarlan unexpectedly witnesses a heated argument between her close friend Rana and Rana’s husband, Solat — a high-ranking government official. Solat is pressuring Rana to give up her job as a dance instructor, something she deeply loves. The conflict spirals out of control, and by the end, Rana is dead. When the police refuse to investigate the case properly, Tarlan makes a bold decision: she will go public. But speaking out puts not only her own life at risk, but also the safety of her family.