When the Moon Was Full

Narges Abyar's 2019 Iranian film starts from real events. Faezeh marries Abdolhamid, whom she meets at the market; his family lives in Sistan and Baluchestan and is involved in illegal work. The axis is what the woman comes to see. Faezeh tries to flee, but her brother-in-law across the border in Pakistan leads an armed group in the region; the narrative shows the bride's step-by-step entrapment and follows how her room for decision narrows. Elnaz Shakerdoost leads. The narrative takes violence in the border region and the position of women within that order as direct subjects. The tone is heavy and the close ties to known events. Who it's for: those who follow Iranian drama and films adapted from real events. Who it's not for: viewers for whom violence and executions would sit heavily.