Director: Farnaz Amini
Cast: Ali Kazemi, Melika Sharifinia, Mohammadreza Shirkhanlou, Nima Shahrokhshahi, Roshanak Ajamian
Eshghe Niakan is a 2017 Iranian drama-family film directed by Farnaz Amini, running 72 minutes. The story centers on two young boys whose friendship is tested by their rival loyalties to Iran's two most iconic football clubs — Esteghlal and Persepolis.
What is Eshghe Niakan about?
Two childhood friends share nearly everything — except their football allegiances. One is devoted to Esteghlal; the other is an ardent Persepolis supporter. When the Persepolis fan happens to cross paths with Arash Barani, a player he knows his Esteghlali friend admires, he seizes the moment and asks for an autograph on his friend's behalf. Time passes, and the Persepolis-supporting boy falls seriously ill with cancer. His loyal friend then sets off across the city, visiting place after place in search of the player his sick companion loves most — hoping that one act of devotion can bring some light into a darkening time.
Cast & crew
The film is directed by Farnaz Amini. The cast includes Ali Kazemi, Melika Sharifinia, Mohammadreza Shirkhanlou, Nima Shahrokhshahi, Roshanak Ajamian, and Solmaz Hesari. The young performers anchor a story built on the quiet, earnest emotion that Iranian family cinema does particularly well.
Context & significance
Football rivalry between Esteghlal and Persepolis — Tehran's two great clubs — is one of the most deeply felt cultural fault lines in Iranian life. For diaspora audiences who grew up watching the Derby-e Tehran, those blue and red loyalties carry years of memory. Eshghe Niakan uses that familiar rivalry not for spectacle, but as an emotional lens through which childhood friendship, loyalty, and hardship are examined. It sits comfortably within the tradition of Iranian family films that treat children's inner lives with sincerity and restraint, asking large questions through modest, human-scale stories.
Where & how to watch
Eshghe Niakan is available on K-Time. Watch with the original Persian audio on the web browser, on your TV, or on your phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, cancel anytime.