Directed by Sepideh Farsi | 88 mins | 2014
Ali (Vassilis Koukalani), a middle-aged Iranian man who has given up all hope for positive political change in his country, prepares to emigrate as Green Movement protests rage outside—but his isolation is interrupted when Sara (Mina Kavani), a young activist, arrives at his door seeking shelter from the police. Its action taking place entirely within the confines of Ali’s apartment—with the exception of mobile phone footage of the action on the streets—"Red Rose" is a film both constrained and voluminous, a conversation-driven, emotionally charged two-hander that touches on questions of initiative and complacency in politics and sex, the gender and generation gaps, and much else besides.