Watch Jafar Panahi's Taxi

Jafar Panahi's Taxi, released in 2015, offers a unique perspective on Iranian society through a surrealist journey in a yellow cab. The movie is directed by Jafar Panahi, who also stars in it as the driver of a taxi in Tehran. The film won the Golden Bear award at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival. The story begins with Jafar Panahi driving his taxi around the streets of Tehran, where he picks up passengers and engages in conversations with them. The passengers come from various backgrounds and social classes, but they share something in common: they are all victims of the Iranian government's oppressive policies. Through these conversations, the film highlights some of the social issues that Iranian society faces, such as the persecution of women and minorities, censorship, and the suppression of free speech.

One of the passengers is Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer who has been imprisoned for defending political dissidents and prisoners of conscience. She discusses her experience with Panahi and argues for the importance of freedom of speech and the rule of law. Another passenger is an elderly man who wants to bury his son's body in a specific location that is considered illegal by the government. The man tells Panahi about the injustice that he and his family have faced and how the government has destroyed his son's life.

Throughout the film, Panahi uses his taxi to travel around the city and to reflect on his own life and experiences. He is constantly reminded of the government's restrictions and the oppression that he has faced because of his status as a filmmaker. In one scene, for example, he picks up a couple who are transporting a large goldfish in a plastic bag. The woman remarks that the fish is lucky because it can swim freely without being censored, while people have to watch what they say and do in public.

As the journey continues, the passengers become more and more intertwined with each other's stories, creating a mosaic of Iranian life that is both tragic and hopeful. Some of the passengers are actors who are working on a film project, while others are simply trying to get from one place to another. Despite their differences, they find common ground in their shared struggles and experiences.

The film's style is reminiscent of a documentary, but it also takes on a fictional narrative as Panahi drives around the city. The passengers are all real people, but their stories are shaped by the film's structure and Panahi's direction. The use of a taxi as a narrative device creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, allowing the audience to feel like they are part of the journey.

One of the most notable aspects of Jafar Panahi's Taxi is the way that it uses humor to address serious issues. The film is full of witty dialogue and absurd situations that highlight the surreal nature of Iranian society. For example, one passenger insists on wearing a mask throughout the entire journey because she doesn't want to be recognized, even though she is sitting in a taxi with a camera crew.

Overall, Jafar Panahi's Taxi is a poignant and powerful film that offers a window into Iranian society and the struggles that its people face. Through its use of humor, surrealism, and intricate narratives, the film provides a thought-provoking commentary on the human condition and the fight for freedom and justice.

Jafar Panahi's Taxi is a 2015 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 91.