Fireworks Wednesday

Farhadi’s sophisticated urban drama takes us on a journey through the complex relationships of contemporary urbanites in Tehran, set against the backdrop of the chaotic firework celebrations of the coming New Year. Rouhi (Taraneh Alidoosti), a young freelance maid who will be married in two days, is sent by her agency to the middle class home of a couple in the throes of a marital meltdown. Mojdeh (Hedye Tehran) is convinced her husband Morteza (Hamid Farokhnezhad) is cheating on her with the next door neighbor. She employs Rouhi as a spy, thrusting her into the center of the maelstrom. Fireworks Wednesday delves into the untidy lives of contemporary Iranians to reveal the complicated relationships of its three-dimensional characters, beautifully realized by these seasoned actors. Exploring the social hierarchies of Iranian society as astutely as A Separation, the film gives us a rare glimpse into the private lives of a people often misunderstood by the outside world.

“This compelling, corrosive account of male-female relationships in today’s Tehran is tempered by genuine compassion for the individuals concerned; wisely, Farhadi never serves judgement on them in their troubled pursuit of truth, love and happiness. Intelligent, illuminating and directed with unflashy expertise.”
–Geoff Andrew, Time Out London