Director: Jafar Panahi
Cast: Hossain Emadeddin, Kamyar Sheisi, Azita Rayeji
Tala Ye Sorkh (Red Gold) is an Iranian crime-drama film directed and produced by Jafar Panahi from a screenplay by Abbas Kiarostami. The film follows a series of events that unfold in Tehran, weaving together themes of economic desperation, moral ambiguity, and the lives of ordinary Iranians navigating difficult circumstances.
What is Tala Ye Sorkh about?
A young man working as a pizza deliveryman finds himself at the center of an unexpected chain of events when a simple failed jewelry robbery sets off a sequence of choices that tests his character and circumstances. Moving through Tehran's streets and apartment buildings, the story observes the lives of people from different social strata — from affluent families behind closed doors to individuals scraping by on society's margins. The film builds its tension quietly, allowing small moments and encounters to accumulate into a portrait of a society under pressure, where the gap between the privileged and the struggling shapes every decision its characters make.
Cast & crew
The film stars Hossain Emadeddin as the central protagonist, a non-professional actor whose naturalistic presence anchors the narrative. Kamyar Sheisi and Azita Rayeji appear in key supporting roles. Director Panahi and writer Kiarostami collaborated closely on the character-driven script, drawing authentic performances from the cast.
Context & significance
Tala Ye Sorkh holds a notable place in Iranian cinema as a collaboration between two of the country's most significant filmmakers — Jafar Panahi as director and Abbas Kiarostami as screenwriter. Both figures shaped the international profile of Iranian cinema through their distinctive approaches to everyday storytelling. For diaspora audiences, the film offers a specific snapshot of Tehran street life, depicting the city's social contrasts with an observational eye. The crime and thriller elements serve the drama rather than dominate it, making this a character study as much as a genre piece. Viewers familiar with Iranian neorealist traditions will recognize the film's emphasis on non-professional performers and location shooting, techniques that lend it an immediacy and authenticity.
Where & how to watch
Tala Ye Sorkh is available on K-Time with original Persian audio. Watch on the web, on your TV, or on your phone — no VPN required, no geo-blocking, and no extra download. A K-Time subscription is required to stream; cancel anytime.