Tehran Taxi

A yellow cab moves through the Iranian capital’s vibrant streets, picking up an array of passengers: a blackmarket DVD dealer; a human rights lawyer; two stubborn old ladies. Each party speaks candidly about social issues, as prompted by the driver – who is none other than Panahi himself, banned from his profession and yet still shooting. With a camera on the dashboard, he creates a mobile studio from which to capture the spirit of present-day Iran. Filmmaking itself becomes a topic when Panahi’s clever niece gets into the car: she’s in the process of making a movie herself, and – pointedly – has been instructed by her teacher to avoid “sordid realism.” A stand-out in the Iranian road movie tradition.