From my perspective as an Iranian viewer, the film feels superficial and exaggerated. It seems to have been created primarily to convey a message, but it lacks authenticity. It appears more suited for foreign film festivals, aiming to provoke the jury's emotions and win awards.
When you cannot create a strong, impactful story, the easiest route is to evoke pity: portray your country as miserable and pitiful, align with prevailing media narratives, and use female and child characters to manipulate emotions and secure recognition.
I am not saying all the narratives are false or unrealistic, but someone whose daughter goes to school, or someone working as a contracted driver for a governmental organization, etc. Would find these portrayals exaggerated and detached from reality.
It seems the writer and filmmaker are depicting an Iran that we do not live in.
