Director: asghar nasiri
Cast: Nima Shahrokhshahi, parastoo salehi, narges mohammadi
Maslakh is a 2016 Iranian drama film directed by Asghar Nasiri, running ninety minutes and set against the stark social landscape of contemporary Iran. With a cast led by Nima Shahrokhshahi, Parastoo Salehi, and Narges Mohammadi, the film turns an unflinching eye toward the human cost of systemic pressure and moral compromise.
What is Maslakh about?
In a world where economic hardship and social expectation grind against personal dignity, a man finds himself trapped between the demands of survival and the weight of his own conscience. As circumstances tighten around him and those he loves, every choice he makes carries a cost that reaches beyond himself. The film builds slowly and deliberately, mapping the erosion of a man's moral ground as he navigates forces larger than any individual will. Without melodrama or easy resolution, it traces how ordinary people can be drawn into desperate situations — and what remains of a person once the familiar supports of life have been stripped away.
Cast & crew
Director Asghar Nasiri brings a restrained, observational style to the material. Nima Shahrokhshahi anchors the film in a performance of quiet intensity, while Parastoo Salehi and Narges Mohammadi bring authenticity and emotional precision to their roles. All three are established names in Iranian cinema known for their naturalistic screen presence.
Context & significance
Iranian social-realist drama has a long tradition of examining lives shaped by economic constraint and institutional pressure, and Maslakh fits squarely within that current. For diaspora viewers who grew up watching the weight of those conditions on family and community, this film offers a recognizable emotional register — not nostalgic, but honest. The title, which translates to 'slaughterhouse,' functions as a bleak metaphor for systems that consume the people caught inside them. For Persian-speaking audiences abroad who want to stay connected to contemporary Iranian storytelling — beyond entertainment, toward something that reflects lived reality — Maslakh is a serious and worthwhile work in that tradition.
Where & how to watch
Maslakh is available on K-Time in its original Persian audio. No VPN is needed — K-Time streams without geo-blocking to Iranian diaspora viewers worldwide on the web, TV, and phone. Start a membership and cancel anytime.