Director: Mehdi Sahebi

Cast: Elahe Hesari, Amirreza Delavari, Andisheh Fouladvand, Babak Ansary, Nazanin Farahani

Taraneh is a 2019 Iranian documentary directed by Mehdi Sahebi, examining the professional and personal life of celebrated Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti — one of the most recognized figures in contemporary Persian cinema — over the course of her artistic career and her public statements on social issues.

What is Taraneh about?

The film follows Alidoosti across her daily life as a working actress, offering an intimate record of her creative process, her relationships within the film industry, and the public positions she has chosen to take on matters affecting Iranian society. Sahebi's camera stays close, capturing private moments alongside press appearances and professional work. Rather than offering a conventional biographical narrative, the documentary constructs a portrait through accumulated observation — how Alidoosti prepares for roles, how she speaks about her craft, and how she navigates the expectations placed on prominent public figures in Iran. The film refrains from dramatic reconstruction, relying on direct footage to let the subject speak for herself.

Cast & crew

Director Mehdi Sahebi shaped the film around its subject, Taraneh Alidoosti, one of Iran's most internationally known actresses whose credits span multiple decades of award-winning Iranian cinema. The supporting cast includes Elahe Hesari, Amirreza Delavari, Andisheh Fouladvand, Babak Ansary, and Nazanin Farahani, all appearing within the documentary's observational framework.

Context & significance

For members of the Iranian diaspora, Taraneh Alidoosti is a familiar face — her performances in films such as About Elly and The Salesman brought Persian cinema to international screens and introduced her to audiences far beyond Iran's borders. This documentary offers diaspora viewers a closer look at the person behind those performances: her working life, her creative commitments, and her public voice. It belongs to a tradition of Iranian portrait documentaries that prioritize sustained observation over dramatic narration, and it provides context for understanding the pressures and choices facing prominent artists in contemporary Iran. The film runs 87 minutes and was produced in 2019.

Where & how to watch

Taraneh is available on K-Time with original Persian audio — no dubbed version is included. You can stream it through any web browser, on your TV, or on your phone with no extra download and no geo-blocking. Cancel anytime.