Director: Reza Heydarnejad
Cast: Mahmoud Jafari, Tania Johari, Fathali Oveisi, Parviz Parastouei, Katayoun Riahi
Hekayat An Mard Khoshbakht is a 1990 Iranian action-drama film directed by Reza Heydarnejad, starring Mahmoud Jafari in the lead role. The film examines how sudden, unearned wealth warps human character, transforming ordinary people into rivals consumed by greed.
What is Hekayat An Mard Khoshbakht about?
Heshmati is an ordinary laborer who stumbles upon a golden statue while digging a well — an object he believes will bring him good fortune for the rest of his life. He brings the statue home, convinced his luck has permanently changed. What follows is far from the blessing he imagined: the presence of the statue begins to alter the behavior and moral character of everyone living in the building. Neighbors who once coexisted peacefully turn suspicious and calculating. Alliances shift, tempers flare, and a bitter contest for possession of the object erupts, exposing the hidden ambitions and weaknesses beneath the surface of each resident.
Cast & crew
Director Reza Heydarnejad helmed this character-driven drama with a cast drawn from established names in Iranian cinema. Mahmoud Jafari leads as Heshmati, supported by Tania Johari, Fathali Oveisi, and Parviz Parastouei. Katayoun Riahi, Ali Kasmaie, Niku Kheradmand, and Mansoor Vala Magham round out the ensemble, each portraying residents whose personalities unravel under the weight of temptation.
Context & significance
Made in 1990, this film belongs to a strand of post-revolution Iranian cinema that used allegorical storytelling to explore social and moral themes within the limits of the era. Crime and action films of this period frequently wrapped social commentary inside genre frameworks, addressing greed, class tension, and community breakdown in ways that resonated widely with Iranian audiences. For diaspora viewers, the film carries the texture of a particular moment in Iranian urban life — apartment-block neighbors, shared spaces, the fragility of trust — that remains deeply familiar regardless of how many years have passed since leaving Iran.
Where & how to watch
Hekayat An Mard Khoshbakht is available to stream on K-Time with original Persian audio. Watch on your web browser, TV, or phone — no VPN required, no geo-blocking, and no extra download needed. Start a subscription and cancel anytime.