Director: Mohsen Tavakoli

Cast: Akbar Abdi-Mohammadreza Sharifi Niya-Yousef Teymourizade-Reza Naji-Bahareh Rahnama-Sahar Ghoreyshi

X Large is a 2019 Iranian comedy-drama directed by Mohsen Tavakoli, following three young men whose release from prison sets off a chain of comic and heartfelt misadventures as they chase long-deferred dreams in contemporary Tehran.

What is X Large about?

Freshly out of prison, three friends — each carrying the weight of broken plans and damaged reputations — try to rebuild their lives in a city that has moved on without them. Landlords slam doors, old contacts keep their distance, and family ties feel frayed at every edge. The trio's attempts to go straight keep colliding with the comic chaos of modern urban life, where a simple job search or a minor errand can spiral into full-blown farce. Through every setback, their loyalty to one another remains the one anchor they can count on, turning what could be grim circumstances into a warm, laugh-filled portrait of resilience.

Cast & crew

Director Mohsen Tavakoli brings a sharp comedic sensibility honed in Iranian popular cinema. The ensemble is led by veteran character actor Akbar Abdi alongside Mohammadreza Sharifi Niya, Yousef Teymourizade, Reza Naji, Bahareh Rahnama, and Sahar Ghoreyshi — a cast whose comedic timing and naturalistic chemistry elevate the material well beyond the premise's surface simplicity.

Context & significance

Iranian comedy films that center ordinary working-class men navigating the gap between aspiration and social reality have a long, beloved tradition reaching back to the classic era of pre-revolution cinema and continuing through post-revolution crowd-pleasers. X Large fits squarely in that lineage, pairing slapstick energy with genuine warmth and a pointed, if gentle, eye on the friction between personal dignity and institutional barriers. For diaspora viewers, the Tehran street-level texture — the bureaucratic runaround, the neighborhood loyalties, the black humor of having to start again — carries a particular resonance that travels across borders.

Where & how to watch

X Large is available on K-Time in its original Persian audio. Stream it on any web browser, Android TV, or your phone — no extra download, no VPN, and no geo-blocking. Cancel anytime.