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A Simple Event

Name: A Simple Event
Director: Sohrab Shahid Saless
Released: 1973
Duration: 80 min

Representation Score

3.5/10

Limited

1973

Director

Sohrab Shahid Saless

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Sohrab Shahid Saless creates a minimalist, anti-narrative exploration of life in rural Northern Iran. By emphasizing atmosphere and repetitive social rhythms over traditional plot tension, the film offers a deep look at socioeconomic challenges. The film avoids Western narrative clichés, providing an unfiltered view of a non-Western reality. It offers high ethnic authenticity through its localized casting and setting. However, it does not address multi-layered issues, nor does it challenge traditional gender hierarchies or explore themes of sexuality.

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Category Breakdown

Does A Simple Event have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on a traditional rural family and does not depict any non-straight or non-cisgender identities or stories.

How does A Simple Event portray gender?

Fair

The story portrays traditional gender roles and a conventional division of labor. These established gender hierarchies are presented as an inherent part of the characters' lives.

How racially and ethnically diverse is A Simple Event?

Excellent

The film centers on a localized Iranian cast, offering an authentic perspective of Iranian life without catering to external expectations.

How does A Simple Event represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques systemic hardship by depicting extreme poverty and framing the characters as individuals navigating economic necessity.

Does A Simple Event include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or diagnosed disabilities in the film. The focus remains on the psychological and existential states of the characters.

Present on Screen

Provides an authentic, non-Western perspective through a localized Iranian cast.
Avoids exoticism by presenting regional life on its own terms.
Offers a sophisticated deconstruction of traditional storytelling through its anti-narrative approach.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender narratives.
Does not seek to challenge traditional patriarchal gender hierarchies.
Contains no depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

The story of a ten years old Iranian schoolboy living with his mother and his father in Northern coasts of Iran. The boy helps his father in selling the latter's illegal fishing and helps his mother in shopping for her and bringing home water from a well. The three characters live together in only one room. Their life is austere. The boy eats only bread and milk every day... One day the boy's mother dies.

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