Director: Mehran Ahmadi
Cast: Bahram Afshari, Amir Jafari, Nazanin Bayati
Sagband is a 2022 Iranian comedy-drama film directed by Mehran Ahmadi, running approximately ninety minutes. It marks the final screen appearance of beloved Iranian comedian Sirus Gorjestani, whose decades-long career in comedy made him a household name across Persian-speaking audiences worldwide.
What is Sagband about?
After their father passes away, two brothers stumble upon an unexpected windfall obtained through questionable means. What begins as a stroke of luck rapidly transforms into a series of escalating complications as the pair struggle to manage sudden wealth they were never prepared to handle. The film follows their misadventures through a world of misunderstandings, clashing personalities, and moral gray areas, weaving sharp social commentary into its comedic framework. Beneath the laughs lies an examination of greed, family bonds under pressure, and what sudden fortune does to ordinary people who are ill-equipped for it. The story unfolds with a brisk, farcical energy while never losing sight of its human core.
Cast & crew
Director Mehran Ahmadi brings a sure comic hand to the material. The cast is led by Bahram Afshari and Amir Jafari as the two brothers, a pairing that generates natural on-screen friction and warmth in equal measure. Nazanin Bayati rounds out the principal cast. The film also carries the poignant distinction of being the last cinema role of Sirus Gorjestani, a giant of Iranian comedy.
Context & significance
Iranian comedy-drama has long served as the genre in which filmmakers can speak most directly to everyday social realities, from class anxiety to family dysfunction, wrapped in laughter that makes difficult truths easier to absorb. Sagband sits in that tradition, using the classic fish-out-of-water premise — ordinary men suddenly flush with illicit money — to probe how wealth distorts relationships and judgment. For diaspora viewers who grew up watching Iranian comedy films and theater, this title carries additional resonance as a farewell to Sirus Gorjestani, one of the most recognisable comic performers of his generation. It is the kind of film that rewards both for its wit and for the cultural memory it preserves.
Where & how to watch
Sagband is available to stream on K-Time with original Persian audio. Watch on the web, your TV, or your phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, and no extra download required. Subscription plans are flexible and you can cancel anytime.