Jonoon is a 2017 Iranian drama film directed by Hossein Tavassoli, running approximately 200 minutes. Set within the psychological unraveling of a deeply disturbed man, it examines obsession, delusion, and the blurred line between belief and madness in contemporary Iranian society.
What is Jonoon about?
Behzad, a psychologically unstable man, becomes convinced that the soul of a figure named Barsad has taken over his mind and body. Consumed by this terrifying belief, he intrudes upon the private world of a young woman named Ghazal, dragging her into the orbit of his delusions. What unfolds is a sustained, harrowing confrontation between a fragile reality and a shattered psyche — as those around Behzad struggle to understand whether he is dangerous, ill, or perhaps telling a truth no one else can see. The film builds its tension slowly, tracing the damage that unchecked mental illness can inflict on ordinary lives.
About the cast
Maryam Rostami leads the cast as Ghazal, bringing quiet strength to a character drawn into circumstances far beyond her control. Director Hossein Tavassoli guides the narrative with a restrained hand, letting the psychological pressure accumulate through atmosphere and performance rather than overt dramatic flourishes. The film's extended runtime allows its character study to breathe.
Context & significance
Iranian cinema has long engaged seriously with mental illness, isolation, and the private cruelties that unfold behind closed doors — and Jonoon sits within that tradition. For diaspora viewers who grew up watching socially conscious Persian drama, it offers a familiar emotional register: slow-burn tension, morally complex characters, and a refusal to offer easy resolution. The title itself — meaning 'madness' or 'obsession' in Farsi — signals that the film is less interested in plot mechanics than in the interior landscape of a disturbed mind. It is the kind of Iranian drama that rewards patient, attentive watching.
Watching Jonoon on Ktime
Jonoon is available to stream on K-Time with the original Persian audio. Watch on the web browser, your Android TV, or your phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, and no extra download required. Subscribe and cancel anytime.