ABOUT THE FILM

The debut feature film by the renown Iranian theater director Arvand Dashtaray, THE ABSENT DIRECTOR, is a gripping non-linear narrative shot in a single continuous take that balances on the edge between the real and the scripted.

The relentlessly ever-present camera keeps the viewer submerged in the world of a young Iranian theater company, who have gathered to rehearse Macbeth at their director’s home in Tehran. The personal and interpersonal conflicts and relationships inside this very intimate working environment are unraveled both in real time and through flashbacks, yet without a single cut. When the tension reaches its peak, a sudden tragedy threatens to forever change this lively group dynamic. The actors lend their names to the characters and together with other real-life events surrounding the making of the film the biggest question is: how much of the story is rooted in reality, how close it comes to reveal some concealed truth about the world of its makers?

Shot in just 13 days after a challenging half a year of rehearsals and writing, Dashtaray’s vision to revolutionize our expectations of Iranian cinema is brought to life by creating both technically and politically daring work. Without any governmental funding, Dashtaray delivers a fresh image of the Iranian society and its daily struggles, providing a stark contrast to the fetishized imagery of Iran in the mainstream media.