Iranian Movie: The Warden

The demolition of a remote prison complex, towering over the arid landscape of 1960s-era southern Iran, requires the transfer of its inmate population. The operation’s success guarantees a reward for the institution’s strict warden (Navid Mohammadzadeh, in a refreshing departure from the dishevelled delinquents he usually plays). However, when it becomes apparent that a prisoner is missing, his absence threatens to undermine the warden’s stellar reputation and any prospect of a promotion. There’s also the relationship between the warden and the prison’s striking social worker (Parinaz Izadyar), a budding romance that will likely play a role in the unfolding events. With its high concept premise of a frantic manhunt for an inmate in the very building that’s meant to keep him imprisoned, Nima Javidi nimbly reflects on notions of freedom and the fragile nature of authority.