Tehran: City of Love

Ali Jaberansari weaves a poignant narrative that explores the complexities of modern love against the backdrop of a vibrant but lonely city of Tehran.
Through a series of vignettes, the film brings to life the pulse of Tehran, a city that contrasts bustling streets with moments of deep solitude. The cinematography captures both the charm and the alienation inherent in urban living, creating a rich tapestry that mirrors the emotional journeys of its characters.

While none of the characters in the film are openly queer, the film’s exploration of love is nuanced, delving into the intricacies of connection in a place where love cannot be openly expressed. All the characters in the film navigate the fine line between desire and loneliness, yearning for connection in a world that often feels disconnected.

Through beautiful imagery and subtle underscoring, Tehran: City of Love challenges the viewer’s perspectives on gender, love, and identity in a society grappling with tradition and modernity.

— Fay Nass, Queering Cinema curator

This is the opening film in our new Queering Cinema series and will be followed by a set from DJ Nancydru. Curator Fay Nass will introduce the film.

London Film School graduate Ali Jaberansari reveals the influence of mentor Abbas Kiarostami in this deceptive deadpan drama. Jaberansari and co-scenarist Maryam Najafi question assumptions about physical beauty, while also examining the way in which ordinary people keep kicking against the restrictions imposed by an Islamic state.

David Parkinson, Radio Times

The structure of Tehran: City of Love is one of successive bittersweet vignettes, and the mood and staging staunchly deadpan and mannered, making clear homage to Aki Kaurismäki, Roy Andersson and early Jim Jarmusch.

Hannah McGill, Sight & Sound

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