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Iron Island

Play trailer Poster for Iron Island 2005 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 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.
Iron Island

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

View All (31) Critics Reviews
J. R. Jones Chicago Reader A fascinating allegory of modern-day Iran. Jul 13, 2022 Full Review 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 Full Review Deborah Young Variety A galloping fable full of offbeat characters and entertaining moments. Jul 21, 2006 Full Review 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 Full Review Rex Roberts Film Journal International This resonant fable proves again that art flourishes in unlikely places, under the most restrictive conditions. Feb 22, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (14) audience reviews
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 Géographique" consacré par le Festival Résistances 2010 à la cinématographie de l'Iran ! projeté le samedi 10 juillet 2010 vers 18h15 dans la grande salle de l'Estive à 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Iron Island

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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