Director: Payman Maadi
Cast: Payman Maadi, Leila Hatami, Siyamak Ansari, Habib Rezaei, Siamak Adib
Bomb, Yek Asheghaneh is a 2018 Iranian drama film directed by and starring Payman Maadi, set against the backdrop of the 1988 Iraqi missile strikes on Tehran — a period of extraordinary civilian fear — weaving a quiet love story through the rubble of wartime uncertainty.
What is Bomb, Yek Asheghaneh about?
Tehran, 1988. As Iraqi Scud missiles fall on the city during the final months of the Iran-Iraq War, ordinary residents are forced to confront mortality alongside the mundane rhythms of daily life. At the centre of the story is a couple whose relationship is tested — not by the bombs alone — but by the emotional distances that war quietly widens between people who love each other. Amid blackouts, crowded shelters, and the perpetual hum of dread, they search for connection in a city holding its breath. The film refuses melodrama, instead letting the weight of history press gently into private moments.
Cast & crew
Payman Maadi, the acclaimed actor behind A Separation, steps behind the camera as director while also playing the male lead — a rare dual role that shapes the film's intimate register. Leila Hatami, one of Iranian cinema's most celebrated performers, brings characteristic depth to her role. Siyamak Ansari, Habib Rezaei, and Siamak Adib round out a cast of respected Iranian screen veterans.
Context & significance
The 1988 missile bombardment of Tehran remains one of the most psychologically charged chapters of modern Iranian history, yet it has rarely been treated on screen with the intimacy it deserves. For diaspora viewers who lived through those years — or who grew up hearing parents describe nights spent in basements — this film offers recognition rather than spectacle. Payman Maadi, already known internationally through Asghar Farhadi's work, approaches the war not as battlefield epic but as domestic portrait, firmly in the tradition of personal Iranian cinema that privileges quiet human truth over grand narrative.
Where & how to watch
Bomb, Yek Asheghaneh is available on K-Time with original Persian audio. Stream it on your browser, Android TV, or phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, and no extra download required. Start watching today and cancel anytime.