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Circumstance

Play trailer Poster for Circumstance R 2011 1h 45m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 77 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
An Iranian teenager (Nikohl Boosheri) enters a lesbian relationship, while her brother (Reza Sixo Safai) becomes dangerously obsessed with Islamic fundamentalism.
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Circumstance

Circumstance

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Critics Consensus

A thought-provoking, insightful look into Iranian youth culture.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 08/24/2012
Keshavarz's film is both sensuous and audacious if a little uneven. Go to Full Review Catherine Shoard Guardian 08/23/2012
3/5
Keshavarz uses a trowel to feed us her ideas about living under a repressive regime when all you required was a teaspoon. But she has enough promise to keep you curious for her next offering - if she can just get a lighter grip on the ladle. Go to Full Review Ashley Clark Little White Lies 08/23/2012
4/5
Bold, haunting and moving; an excellent feature debut. Go to Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter 06/10/2020
The increasing fear and paranoia are temporarily offset by witty scenes of young queers dubbing a pirated version of Milk. Go to Full Review B. Ruby Rich Film Quarterly 02/28/2020
With an eye for detail and atmosphere reminiscent of Mira Nair and Deepa Mehta, [Maryam] Keshavarz nimbly reworks the diaspora narrative with a fresh, stylish, sexy style. Go to Full Review Katie Smith-Wong Flick Feast 11/26/2019
4/5
Circumstance is a fascinating and perceptive drama with a refreshing take on modern-day culture clashes in the Middle East. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Faiz D May 13 A truly unexpected film and great music as well. See more Naz H 01/30/2023 This film is a masterpiece! See more 04/02/2017 It was so oppressing to watch, but this kind of movie allows revolution and people to actually feel what happens to youth. And my god Shireen is such beauty. See more 09/28/2015 Circumstance is a surprisingly complex and intriguing look at Iranian lives. Various tensions between sensuality and repression, family and the state, and too many more to mention play out over the course of a short story. While not a masterpiece, Circumstance is nicely drawn and worth a look, especially if you are unfamiliar with Persian culture. See more 07/24/2015 Very good effort with a story based on a master treatise. Iranians live in an artificially prude world that actually protects them from the idiotic-ness of western world make efforts to go idiotic. Desire here seems superficial although love is everywhere. The story is very well balanced and i felt surprised to root for everybody in the film. May god be great. Maybe god is great. The outcome is not obvious or formulaic, but it does ring true. See more 03/09/2014 ok romantic drama in a land where love n freedom are monitored See more Read all reviews
Circumstance

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Cast & Crew

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Maryam Keshavarz

Director

Nikohl Boosheri

Atefah

Sarah Kazemy

Shireen

Reza Sixo Safai

Mehran

Soheil Parsa

Firouz Hakimi

Nasrin Pakkho

Azar Hakimi

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Circumstance

Circumstance (2011) Circumstance (2011) Circumstance (2011) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An Iranian teenager (Nikohl Boosheri) enters a lesbian relationship, while her brother (Reza Sixo Safai) becomes dangerously obsessed with Islamic fundamentalism.
Director
Maryam Keshavarz
Producer
Maryam Keshavarz, Karin Chien
Screenwriter
Maryam Keshavarz
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Rating
R (Sexual Content|Language|Some Drug Use)
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
Persian
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 26, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$452.6K
Runtime
1h 45m
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