Director: Homayoun Assadian
Cast: Parviz Parastouei, Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, Habib Rezaei, Javad Yahyavi
Shokhi (The Prank) is a 1999 Iranian comedy-drama film directed by Homayoun Assadian, starring Parviz Parastouei and Fatemeh Motamed-Arya. Inspired loosely by the 1992 American film Hero, it delivers a sharp social commentary on honesty, credit, and the way ordinary people can be overshadowed by those willing to bend the truth.
What is Shokhi about?
Reza Fathali is a small-time street hustler who stumbles into an extraordinary moment — he rescues survivors from a devastating plane crash and slips away without claiming any recognition. His old associate Ebrahim Nazabadi seizes the moment, steps forward, and takes all the glory that rightfully belongs to Reza. As media attention swells around Ebrahim, Reza finds himself invisible, unable to prove what he actually did. The story pivots on what happens when a forgotten man decides the truth is worth fighting for — even if no one is ready to believe him.
The K-Time take
Assadian frames the story with a dry, ironic touch that keeps the comedy grounded even as the social critique sharpens. Parastouei's performance is effortlessly naturalistic — equal parts bumbling and quietly dignified — and Motamed-Arya brings emotional texture to a film that could easily have stayed at surface level. The screenplay uses the mistaken-hero premise to probe something real about Iranian public life: who gets believed, who gets erased, and what honesty actually costs.
Cast & crew
Parviz Parastouei, one of Iranian cinema's most beloved character actors, anchors the film with his signature mix of vulnerability and dry wit. Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, an acclaimed figure in serious Iranian drama, adds credibility and warmth to her supporting role. Habib Rezaei plays the opportunistic Ebrahim with a confident charm that makes his deception entirely believable. Javad Yahyavi rounds out the central ensemble.
Context & significance
Released in 1999 — the same era that saw Iranian cinema earn wide international recognition — Shokhi occupies a particular niche: a socially aware comedy that speaks directly to questions of integrity, class, and public narrative. For diaspora viewers who grew up watching Iranian films of this period, the movie carries genuine nostalgia while remaining accessible to anyone discovering it fresh. The theme of the 'invisible good Samaritan' whose credit is stolen resonates deeply in communities where reputation and social standing carry enormous weight. It sits comfortably alongside the broader tradition of humanist Iranian cinema that balances comedy with moral seriousness.
Where & how to watch
Shokhi is available on K-Time with the original Persian-language audio. Watch on the web, your TV, or your phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, cancel anytime.