Director: Esmael Barari
Cast: Ahmad Najafi, Dariush Asadzade, Afsar Asadi, Arjang Amirfasili, Mehran Rajabi
12 Sandali is a 2016 Iranian comedy film directed by Esmael Barari, loosely adapted from the beloved Soviet novel "The Twelve Chairs" by Ilf and Petrov. Clocking in at 110 minutes, this fast-paced farce reunites a strong ensemble of Iranian comic talent for a treasure-hunt romp set against contemporary Persian backdrops.
What is 12 Sandali about?
When a dying relative lets slip that a family fortune is hidden inside one of twelve chairs scattered across the city, an opportunistic young man teams up with an unlikely partner to track them down before anyone else does. What follows is a frantic city-wide chase — full of mistaken identities, petty rivalries, and chaotic detours — as the two scramble from one lead to the next, only to discover that greed has a way of attracting unwanted company. The search grows more unpredictable with each chair they find, and the prize proves far more elusive than either man imagined.
Cast & crew
Director Esmael Barari brings his eighth feature to the screen with a confident comedic hand. The cast is anchored by Ahmad Najafi and Dariush Asadzade, both well-known faces in Iranian commercial cinema. Afsar Asadi, Arjang Amirfasili, Mehran Rajabi, and Arash Nozari round out the ensemble, each lending the film its high-energy, bouncing rhythm.
Context & significance
The novel that inspired this film — first published in 1928 by Soviet satirists Ilf and Petrov — has been adapted for the screen more than seventeen times across dozens of countries, a mark of its universal comic premise. Barari's Iranian version transplants the story into a recognizably modern Persian setting, mining familiar social anxieties about money, luck, and class for laughs that resonate deeply with diaspora audiences who grew up watching Iranian slapstick comedies. For viewers abroad, the film offers a warm, nostalgic sense of home — broad humor, lively performances, and the particular brand of urban chaos that feels distinctly Iranian.
Where & how to watch
12 Sandali is available on K-Time with original Persian audio. Watch on the web, your TV, or your phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, no extra download required. Start a subscription and cancel anytime.