Director: Masoud Kimiaii

Cast: Mohammad Reza Forootan, Dariush Arjomand, Mehdi Fathi, Mitra Hajar, Bita Farhi

Eteraz is a 2000 Iranian drama film directed by Masoud Kimiaii, one of the defining voices of Iranian cinema. Starring Mohammad Reza Forootan and Dariush Arjomand, this 96-minute feature centers on honor, guilt, and the long shadow that prison casts over a man returning to a world that has moved on without him.

What is Eteraz about?

Amir Ali spent twelve years behind bars after committing a violent act he believed was demanded by honor. On the day of his release, his cellmate presses a ring into his hand — a small object carrying enormous weight and an unspoken obligation. Stepping back into Tehran's streets, Amir Ali must face his brother Reza, whose life was shattered by the original events, and confront whether the code that once drove him still holds any meaning. The film follows his slow, uncertain reintegration as old loyalties, unresolved grief, and the ring's hidden significance begin to pull him in competing directions.

Cast & crew

Director Masoud Kimiaii is a towering figure of Iranian cinema, known for gritty, morally complex dramas. Mohammad Reza Forootan brings quiet intensity to Amir Ali, while Dariush Arjomand plays the wounded brother Reza with controlled restraint. Mehdi Fathi, Mitra Hajar, Bita Farhi, and Parsa Piruzfar round out a cast that brings authenticity to the film's portrait of working-class Tehran.

Context & significance

Masoud Kimiaii built his reputation on films that examine masculine identity, street codes, and the cost of loyalty in Iranian society — themes rooted in the Film Farsi tradition that stretches back to pre-revolution cinema. Eteraz continues that lineage: it is a post-prison drama that asks what honor actually costs when measured in years of a human life. For diaspora viewers raised on Iranian cinema's moral seriousness, this film speaks directly to questions of family obligation, guilt, and the possibility — or impossibility — of starting over. The year 2000 setting places it in a transitional Iran, adding a layer of social texture that rewards close attention.

Where & how to watch

Eteraz is available to stream on K-Time with original Persian audio. No VPN is required and there is no geo-blocking. Watch on the web, your TV, or your phone — no extra download needed. Subscribe and cancel anytime.