Watch Marriage, Iranian Style

Marriage, Iranian Style, is a captivating drama-comedy film directed by Hassan Fathi in 2006, starring Dariush Arjmand, Fatemeh Goudarzi, and Daniel Holmes. The movie showcases the traditions and customs of an Iranian wedding, ending up as a social commentary on the complexity of the Iranian marital system. The plot of the movie begins with the marriage agency owner, Ali (Dariush Arjmand), who finds himself trying to find partners for three individuals: a middle-aged divorcee, a young nurse who seeks an educated partner, and a wealthy man who wants to marry his beloved girl. In two of these cases, the participants are coming to a fresh start after an unsuccessful marriage, while others seek to start a new life.

One of the most striking features of the movie is the emphasis on the cultural traditions surrounding marriage in Iran. Hassan Fathi masterfully highlights the process of finding a suitable partner for marriage as a complex and challenging task. The artful director portrays the various stages of courtship, including the applications, matchmaking, the formal family approval process, and eventually, the wedding ceremony, painting a vivid picture of Iranian familial and societal values.

The film’s protagonists are engulfed in a web of family emotions and expectations. Ali's marital agency and his clients are portrayed with sensitivity and compassion throughout their struggles in finding the perfect partner that align with their goals, life aspirations, and social status. The director adds comedic relief to the plot, portraying the hustle of matchmaking, competing agencies, and obstacles on the road to love with a lighthearted approach.

In the middle of the plot, the story takes an interesting and peculiar twist. The young nurse, Sima (Fatemeh Goudarzi), seeks out a university-educated husband but falls in love with a foreign language teacher, Daniel (Daniel Holmes), who speaks only Persian after his stay of years in Tehran. Sima's traditional parents disapprove of the romance and attempt to end the relationship, threatening to put them both in grave danger.

One of the stand-outs in the film is Goudarzi’s performance. She plays the role of Sima, who is passionate about her job but also yearns for a romantic relationship, with sincerity and conviction. Her character’s personality is so convincing that it will give the audience a sense of hope for the future of Iranian film in creating layered female characters.

The foreign language teacher, Daniel, is played remarkably well by Holmes, showcasing how a foreigner speaks Persian in a way that doesn't make the viewer uncomfortable or sounds artificial. The romantic chemistry between the two is palpable and feels genuine throughout the film, creating a touching sense of tenderness in the movie.

Marriage, Iranian Style, ultimately questions the traditional values and norms that shape Iranian marital relationships. While it could be assumed to be just an entertaining depiction of the search for love in Iran, it also carries a deeper narrative that goes beyond the artist’s mere intention. It deals with issues of gender and social constraints and their complex interplays, revealing the societal contradiction between humanistic quest for happiness and traditional familial and social pressures.

The movie’s critical reflection on the complexities of Iranian society surrounding relationships and marriage gives the audience a glimpse into Iranian customs and societal values. The film is a move away from Iranian cinema that mainly deals with migration, martyrdom, and injustice to a lighter and more universal tone that intersects with cross-cultural romance and the contemporary challenges of love in the digital age.

In conclusion, Marriage, Iranian Style, directed by Hassan Fathi, is an impressive cinematic effort that brings the Iranian wedding tradition to the forefront of Iran’s film industry. The film is insightful, funny, and touching, elevating the humanistic quest for love above the societal and cultural constraints. With rich storytelling, an exceptional cast, and outstanding direction, the movie is captivating and worldly in its themes -- a must-watch for fans of Iranian cinema.