Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List
Spoiler-free premise
A family crosses rural Iran on a road trip whose true purpose is left largely unspoken.
Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free+
A family drives across rural Iran with parents, an irrepressible younger son, a quiet older son, and a sick dog. Jokes, songs, arguments, roadside stops, and anxious phone rules gradually reveal that the journey is a farewell.
Why it belongs
Employing landscape, family cadence, pop songs, and a child's energy to circle an unspoken departure, Panahi lets comedy and grief share one car.
Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case+
The ensemble lets affection emerge through irritation and practical care. Dashboard frames, mountain roads, roadside picnics, a cast-covered leg, forbidden phone use, singalongs, and shifting seat positions make concealment visible.
Major award wins
No verified wins in this six-institution crosswalk.
Awards are reference metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Good for
Date Night
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.
Institutional reference ranks
Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 250—AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score
Great Cinema Master List scores
Greatness8.4
Engagement8.7
Ease8.8
Persian · Not Rated Narrative Feature Mood: Warm & Bittersweet
