Dancing in the Dust (Raghs Dar Ghobar) by Asghar Farhadi (Iran, 2003, 95 min., 35 mm)

Synopsis:
Dark and intense, Dancing in the Dust continues Iranian cinema’s post-revolutionary style of ethics of social life, yet marks the emergence of a new generation of Iranian films. Nazar, torn by his love for a woman deemed inappropriate by social standards, tries to fulfill his obligation to the law and the community by paying off the bride-price, only to find himself in desperate straits. His entanglement with a solitary snake catcher in the desert brings physical and emotional distress to both, but hope and love are not lost in this stunning, lyrical tale.
In Farsi with English subtitles.

Biography:
Born in 1972, Asghar Farhadi received degrees in theater from Tehran University (BA) and Tarbiat Modarres (MA). After graduation, Farhadi made some 8mm and 16mm films at the Isfahan branch of Iranian Young Cinema Society. Subsequently, he wrote plays and screenplays for IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting). He has also directed a number of TV series, including A Tale of a City, and he co-wrote the script for Ebrahim Hatamikia’s Low Heights. Dancing in the Dust is Farhadi’s debut feature film.

Festivals & Awards:
Moscow International Film Festival, 2003
Pusan International Film Festival, 2003
14th Annual Festival of Films from Iran, Chicago, 2003

Reveiws:
Eye-catching... Farhadi tells the tale engrossingly and with a lot of physicality.
- Variety, June 9, 2003