A group of Gen-Z/Millennial friends plan a goodbye for their friend, while coming face-to-face with, but pushing back at, patriarchal realities. Sahand Kabiri presents a personal portrait of middle-class young adult life in contemporary Tehran: vibrant and defiant.
As Raman prepares to migrate out of Iran, his friends plot the perfect way to celebrate his impending departure. However, their path is plagued with conflict: an unresolved argument over the accidental death of a friend and a conservative elder brother who looks upon their lives with disdain, further resolves to stop the celebration.
With The Crowd, Sahand Kabiri brings his debut feature to IFFR. Shot over the course of 12 days with a crisp but playful visual style, the film shows a portrait of middle-class, digital-aged Gen-Z/Millennials in Tehran and beset with affectionate platonic love. While acting as a breath of fresh air, The Crowd has just as much a sense of rebellion as maestros of Iranian cinema, made afresh for a younger generation. Dappled with collage elements and framed with Iran’s present-day atmosphere, The Crowd is a touching tribute to those leaving and those who have left.
– Olivia Popp
Film details
- Country of production
- Iran
- Year
- 2025
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2025
- Length
- 70'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
