The Friend's House Is Here

Pari runs an independent theatre company in Tehran; her best friend Hanna is a dancer who dreams of leaving Iran. Together they move through a colourful underground arts scene, where rehearsals, parties and encounters create space for freedom. When their artistic circle comes under pressure, their friendship and their futures are put to the test. Maryam Ataei and Hossein Keshavarz shot The Friend's House Is Here clandestinely in Tehran, with a cast and crew who took great risks to tell their story. Yet the film opts not for gloom, but for the zest for life of a generation that refuses to be told how to live or create. Mahshad Bahram and Hana Mana carry the film with a magnetic presence; together with the rest of the cast, they were honoured at Sundance with a Special Jury Award. A warm tribute to artistic freedom, solidarity and the power of friendship.