Iron Island

2005

1h 30m

Drama

List

97%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

85%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

A slowly sinking ship stuck in the Persian Gulf has become a pseudo-community to homeless Iranian squatters. This metal metropolis is run by Capt. Nemat (Ali Nassirian), a firm but loving leader who does everything from play Cupid to supervise the residents' search for salable scrap metal. The only person in this "town" not to obey the captain's every command is Ahmad (Hossein Farzi-Zadeh), a rebellious youngster who pines for a pretty girl (Neda Pakdaman) with an overprotective father.

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Critics Consensus

A visually creative yet grounded film from Iran, Iron Island is a political allegory that packs a punch.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

A fascinating allegory of modern-day Iran.

Jul 13, 2022

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Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Like the great Iranian filmmakers, Rasoulof has no use for the artificiality of heightened drama. He opts, instead, for a more universal humanism, which is a better teaching tool.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 25, 2006

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Deborah Young

Variety

A galloping fable full of offbeat characters and entertaining moments.

Jul 21, 2006

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

The film is most effective in examining the resilience of the human spirit even as one's ship is sinking.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 12, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Visually pleasing in its mythic images, and it's heartfelt narrative is both stirring and poetic.

Rated: B

May 4, 2010

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Rex Roberts

Film Journal International

This resonant fable proves again that art flourishes in unlikely places, under the most restrictive conditions.

Feb 22, 2007

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Audience Member

Amazing piece of Iranian cinema which really delves into the issues of isolationism in a world in which such issues are gaining salience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"La Vie sur l'Eau" (2005) de Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran) Premier film du "Zoom GÃ©ographique" consacrÃ© par le Festival RÃ©sistances 2010 Ã la cinÃ©matographie de l'Iran ! projetÃ© le samedi 10 juillet 2010 vers 18h15 dans la grande salle de l'Estive Ã Foix !

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

social, drama, iranian

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Captivating movie that pulls you in. Not only as an insight into Iranian lifestylels, but when you talk into account that it's an allegory Iran as a country, it really makes you pay attention.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Audience Member

Holy Holy Holy! The captain can do know wrong!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Todella vahvasti merkityksellinen ja vertauskuvallinen tarina. minulle eksoottinen kosketus Iranilaiseen kulttuuriin.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Mohammad Rasoulof

Director

Ali Nassirian

Captain Nemat

Hossein Farzi-Zadeh

Ahmad

Neda Pakdaman

The Girl

Mohammad Rasoulof

Writer

Mohammad Rasoulof

Producer

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Synopsis

A slowly sinking ship stuck in the Persian Gulf has become a pseudo-community to homeless Iranian squatters. This metal metropolis is run by Capt. Nemat (Ali Nassirian), a firm but loving leader who does everything from play Cupid to supervise the residents' search for salable scrap metal. The only person in this "town" not to obey the captain's every command is Ahmad (Hossein Farzi-Zadeh), a rebellious youngster who pines for a pretty girl (Neda Pakdaman) with an overprotective father.

Director: Mohammad Rasoulof
Producer: Mohammad Rasoulof, Abolhassan Davudi
Screenwriter: Mohammad Rasoulof
Production Co: Farabi Cinema Foundation, Mohammad Rasoulof
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Persian
Release Date (Streaming): May 9, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.1K
Runtime: 1h 30m