Director: Mohammadreza Yekani
Cast: Aliasghar Eyzi, Mohammad Afzalzadeh, Hakan Goodarzi, Fatemeh Karimi, Afshin Rezaei
Ordak is a 2023 Iranian comedy-drama film directed by Mohammadreza Yekani, running at 46 minutes and blending family warmth with sharp social observation. The film centers on a duck costume — an unlikely object that sets off a chain of competition, misunderstanding, and very human folly among ordinary people.
What is Ordak about?
When a duck mascot costume becomes the unlikely centerpiece of a job dispute, a small community of everyday characters finds itself drawn into an escalating rivalry. What begins as a seemingly trivial disagreement over who gets to wear the costume — and the modest livelihood that comes with it — slowly unravels into something far more revealing about pride, economic pressure, and the lengths people go to protect what little they have. The story unfolds with dry wit and genuine empathy, letting its ensemble cast reveal layers of personality through the absurdity of the central conflict. Each character brings a distinct perspective on ambition and dignity, and the costume itself becomes a mirror reflecting social tensions hiding just beneath the surface of daily Iranian life.
Cast & crew
Director Mohammadreza Yekani shapes a tight ensemble piece with a cast that includes Aliasghar Eyzi, Mohammad Afzalzadeh, Hakan Goodarzi, Fatemeh Karimi, Afshin Rezaei, Alireza Mahan, Amir Karamlou, and Massoud Shahri. Each performer contributes to the film's comedic rhythm while grounding the story in recognizable, working-class Iranian reality.
Context & significance
Iranian short and mid-length comedy films occupy a vital space in the country's cinematic tradition — they carry social critique lightly, wrapped in laughter, making pointed observations about class, labor, and everyday dignity without the weight of heavy-handed messaging. Ordak fits squarely within this lineage. For diaspora audiences, this kind of film resonates precisely because it captures the texture of Iranian street-level life: the bureaucratic frustrations, the informal economies, the community rivalries that feel both absurd and utterly real. Watching a film like this from abroad carries a particular warmth — it is a direct line back to a familiar social world, comedic but honest about the pressures ordinary people navigate.
Where & how to watch
Ordak is available now on K-Time with original Persian audio. No VPN is needed and there is no geo-blocking — stream directly on the web, your smart TV, or your phone. Subscribe to K-Time and cancel anytime.