There Is No Evil

Released May 14, 2021

2h 31m

Drama

TRAILER

for

List

98%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Shot in secret and smuggled out of Iran, There is No Evil is an anthology film comprising four moral tales about men faced with a simple yet unthinkable choice -- to follow orders to enforce the death penalty, or resist and risk everything. Whatever they decide, it will directly or indirectly affect their lives, their relationships, and their consciences. Says director Mohammad Rasoulof: "As responsible citizens, do we have a choice when enforcing the inhumane orders of despots? As human beings, to what extent are we to be held responsible for carrying out those orders? Where does the duality of love and moral responsibility leave us?" Suspenseful, mysterious, and shot through with a sense of urgency, Rasoulof's film is an incisive look at the moral strength and inner humanity of its protagonists.

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Critics Consensus

There Is No Evil thoughtfully poses troubling questions about man's responsibility to man -- and leaves the viewer to try and answer them.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Bleakly matter-of-fact in approach, the film has a devastating cumulative power that grows with each story.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 5, 2021

Full Review

Marina Ashioti

Little White Lies

The film's political importance is explored with a sincerity that outweighs it shortcomings.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 2, 2021

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

There is great technique in the storytelling, and Rasoulof's outrage and nausea at the state-sanctioned murder gives the film passion.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 30, 2021

Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

A very interesting film with amazing performances. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 18, 2023

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Rasoulof edify a defiant discourse that takes four chapters to examine the death penalty and the absence of civil liberties, of an Iranian people in a state of resistance and despair. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The film is not only a humanist statement but an act of courage.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 12, 2022

Full Review

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Max P

One of the slowest most boring and pretentious and stupid movies I've ever seen. Definitely one of the worst directors ever too. Anyone who watches the first 30 minutes and decides to continue watching needs to be checked for brain damage and I swear I mean that in all seriousness, actually go check for brain damage if you liked this movie. 0 stars.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Intenso ed emozionante dramma suddiviso in quattro storie, tutte legate all'applicazione della pena di morte in Iran e alle sue conseguenze per le forze dell'ordine che sono costrette a lavorare in quell'ambito. La scelta del regista è di costruire 4 differenti trame, tutte con protagonisti dei militari o ex tali e delle dolorose scelte a cui devono sottostare per la sopravvivenza con annesse ed altrettanto dure conseguenze. Senza dubbio le prime due storie sono quelle a maggior impatto; due militari e due trame agli antipodi che a loro modo incollano allo schermo e colpiscono nel segno. Le seconde due trame, pur di qualità, puntano maggiormente sulle conseguenze interiori delle scelte fatte, ed essendo poste consecutivamente dopo già un'ora di film, sono leggermente più difficili da seguire. Film meraviglioso per accuratezza e per il rapporto tra delicatezza e durezza del mondo Iraniano. Sceneggiatura splendida.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

ryan p

After winning the top prize at the 2022 Berlinale festival, director Mohammad Rasoulof was ordered to serve a one-year prison sentence; for producing, what the state considers, "propaganda against the system."

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Best film on the death penalty since Dead Man Walking, though it's more about making choices in life, and be responsible for them.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is not a film for all the family anymore than it is grim faced mullahs. Nor is it, God forbid, a date movie. It is a serious, adult (in the true sense, not a euphemism) film about a very serious subject. It works as drama and asks all of us the most profound of questions. Over the years l have seen a number of Iranian films. This is by far the best. For me, a masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Filmed entirely in Iran, without the knowledge or permission of the government, the film presents four stories centered around executioners who take on this task as part of their military service. Iran's enthusiasm for capital punishment gets exposed in terms of its impact on both its soldiers and citizens. Each story is well acted and coherent, presenting four different takes on the dire consequences that befall executioners and those who love them. I would give the film higher marks if the director had not so scrupulously avoided the Islamic "honor" killings that routinely cause family members to murder each other.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Mohammad Rasoulof

Director

Baran Rasoulof

Darya

Darya Moghbeli

Tahmineh

Mahtab Servati

Nana

Shahi Jila

Zaman

Kaveh Ahangar

Pouya

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There Is No Evil: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Shot in secret and smuggled out of Iran, There is No Evil is an anthology film comprising four moral tales about men faced with a simple yet unthinkable choice -- to follow orders to enforce the death penalty, or resist and risk everything. Whatever they decide, it will directly or indirectly affect their lives, their relationships, and their consciences. Says director Mohammad Rasoulof: "As responsible citizens, do we have a choice when enforcing the inhumane orders of despots? As human beings, to what extent are we to be held responsible for carrying out those orders? Where does the duality of love and moral responsibility leave us?" Suspenseful, mysterious, and shot through with a sense of urgency, Rasoulof's film is an incisive look at the moral strength and inner humanity of its protagonists.

Director: Mohammad Rasoulof
Producer: Kaveh Farnam, Farzad Pak, Mohammad Rasoulof
Screenwriter: Mohammad Rasoulof
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Cosmopol Film, Filminiran, Europe Media Nest
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Persian
Release Date (Theaters): May 14, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 13, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.6K
Runtime: 2h 31m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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