North American Premiere
Ilya is a normal, healthy four-and-a-half year-old boy. He goes to daycare and enjoys playing. He comes from a stable background with loving parents. But for reasons known only to himself, he has stopped talking. Contrary to what you might expect, Dornaz Hajiha’s superbly acted film zeroes in on the boy’s mom and dad, Haleh and Amir (Sepidar Tari and Shahdiyar Shakiba). In the first scene, a pyschologist probes their relationship and recommends that they reverse roles, that is, Amir should take over responsibility for getting Ilya dressed, feeding him, and the thousand other little things that his wife routinely does for their son. He grudgingly agrees. But it’s Haleh who really struggles with the new arrangement. She feels helpless and redundant. And Ilya still isn’t talking.
In her spare, empathetic first feature film, Hajiha establishes such authenticity, it’s almost as if we are watching an observational documentary. As the distressed parents consult one specialist after another, all to no avail, their own mental health suffers and the marriage cracks apart, leading to a devastating climax.
A transfixing and brooding, unafraid film where there are no winners. But there are truths to be had.”—Robert Daniels, RogerEbert.com
Q&A Oct 2 & Oct 4
Media Partner
Sepidar Tari, Shahdiyar Shakiba, Ali Ahmadi
Iran
2022
In Farsi with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Girl
In this Lunar New Year gala premiere, we are delighted to present the directorial debut of Taiwanese superstar Shu Qi (Millennium Mambo; The Assassin; Resurrection). Girl is an autobiographical coming of age film about a troubled teenager in the 1980s.
The Princess Bride
VIFF Kids Club is our monthly family series with films, crafts and more! Doors at 11 am for activities, film at 12 pm. One of the most beloved movies of the 80s, The Princess Bride delivers a romantic, funny, swashbuckling fairy tale for kids of all ages.
Sirât
A desperate father (Sergi Lopez) searchers for his missing daughter through the spiritual wasteland of the Moroccan desert. An unforgettable sensory powerhouse, Sîrat will have you riveted and rattled for hours after the end credits have rolled.
KPop Demon Hunters
The surprise hit of 2025, KPop Demon Hunters is a blast of good vibes and catchy tunes — this generation's Ghostbusters, Gorillaz, or Spice Girls — or some delightfully unholy combination of all three. Rated PG, all ages welcome!
Credits
Producer
Ehsan Rasoulof
Screenwriter
Dornaz Hajiha
Cinematography
Alireza Barazande
Editor
Ashkan Mehri
Director
Dornaz Hajiha
Dornaz Hajiha received her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Alzahra University, Tehran, and graduated with an MA in Film Production from the London Film School in 2015. She has written and directed several short films and documentaries, including Marlon (2017) and Marziyeh (2017). Like a Fish on the Moon is her debut feature. Hajiha is currently developing her second feature, Diaphanous.