Director: Homayoun Ghanizadeh

Cast: Ali Nasirian, Saber Abar, Babak Hamidian

Maskhare Baz is a 2019 Iranian comedy-crime-fantasy film directed by Homayoun Ghanizadeh, blending dark humor with a surreal murder mystery set in the world of aspiring performers and shady showbiz brokers in contemporary Tehran.

What is Maskhare Baz about?

Danesh, a young barber with a burning desire to step in front of a camera, crosses paths with Manfared, a slippery talent broker who dangles the promise of an introduction to a celebrated director. The catch: Danesh must gather a large quantity of long human hair to supply a wig-making operation. As Danesh scrambles to meet this bizarre condition, a string of killings begins rattling the city — and the two storylines start to converge in ways that are equal parts comic and unsettling. The film plays with coincidence and paranoia, asking how far an ordinary person will stretch their principles when stardom feels just one favor away.

Cast & crew

Ali Nasirian, one of Iranian cinema's most decorated veterans, anchors the film with effortless comic gravity. Saber Abar brings restless energy to the morally elastic broker Manfared, while Babak Hamidian rounds out the central trio. Director Homayoun Ghanizadeh, known for blending genre elements with social satire, shapes the ensemble into a tight comedic machine.

Context & significance

Iranian crime-comedy is a genre that thrives on exposing the absurdity lurking beneath everyday ambition, and Maskhare Baz fits squarely in that tradition. For diaspora viewers, the film speaks to a universal immigrant experience — the hunger to be seen, the willingness to jump through improbable hoops for a shot at recognition. Set against a recognizably chaotic Tehran backdrop, it captures the wheeling-and-dealing culture of informal entertainment circuits in Iran, offering laughs that carry a knowing edge. Fantasy elements keep the tone unpredictable and fun, making it an accessible watch for Persian-speaking audiences who want something lighter but not without teeth.

Where & how to watch

Maskhare Baz is available on K-Time in its original Persian audio. No VPN needed and no extra download required — stream directly on your browser, TV, or phone. Subscribe with cancel-anytime flexibility.