Circumstance

A powerful drama that challenges our perceptions of women, love, and power dynamics in Iran.

Two teenage girls seek the freedom to be themselves. Atafeh is the outspoken daughter of an affluent, liberal family. Her best friend, Shireen, is labeled because of her deceased parents' strongly anti-revolutionary texts. Gradually, their friendship evolves into something more. The young girls dream of having the opportunity to live out their dreams and desires, an impossibility in the tightly controlled Iranian society. When Atafeh's brother Mehran becomes suspicious of their relationship, he sets in motion a series of twisted plans to tear apart the love-struck girls.

Circumstance received glowing reviews after its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and won the festival's Audience Award.

Lasse Skagen

Director

Maryam Keshavarz (b. 1975) is an Iranian-American filmmaker. Her first feature film, Circumstance (2011), premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award. Her second feature film, Viper Club (2018), premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and starred Susan Sarandon. Her latest film, The Persian Version (2023), premiered at Sundance, where it also won the Audience Award.

This film is part of