Director: Mohammad Hadi Karimi
Cast: Jaleh Sameti, Arman Darvish, Bahareh Kian Afshar
Pesarkoshi is an Iranian drama-mystery film directed by Mohammad Hadi Karimi, exploring the circumstances surrounding the killing of a young boy. The film entered the competition section of the 38th Fajr Film Festival, bringing Karimi's sixth feature to one of Iran's most prestigious cinematic platforms.
What is Pesarkoshi about?
A young boy is found dead, and the truth behind his fate becomes the driving force of the narrative. As those connected to the child grapple with grief and suspicion, the film peels back layers of family tension and social pressure to reveal how violence can emerge from the most ordinary-seeming corners of life. Karimi constructs a measured, restrained story that resists easy answers — asking hard questions about community, responsibility, and what adults fail to see or choose to ignore. The film unfolds at a deliberate pace, allowing the emotional weight of each relationship to accumulate before the full picture comes into focus.
Cast & crew
Director Mohammad Hadi Karimi also served as screenwriter, bringing a unified authorial vision to the project. The film stars Jaleh Sameti, a veteran Iranian actress whose understated performances have defined serious dramatic work across multiple decades. Arman Darvish and Bahareh Kian Afshar round out the lead ensemble, both known for their work in Iranian dramatic productions.
Context & significance
Films centering on violence against children carry particular weight within Iranian cinema's social-realist tradition, where family and community are examined as both sources of warmth and sites of harm. Pesarkoshi follows a lineage of Iranian films that refuse to sensationalize dark subjects, instead turning an unflinching but humane gaze on the circumstances that allow tragedy to occur. For diaspora audiences shaped by Iranian storytelling values — where silence, duty, and collective reputation often override individual anguish — this kind of film resonates deeply. Karimi's entry into the Fajr Film Festival competition signals institutional recognition of a work willing to ask uncomfortable questions.
Where & how to watch
Pesarkoshi is available on K-Time with original Persian audio. Watch it on the web, on your television, or on your phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, and no extra download required. Subscription plans come with the option to cancel anytime.