3 Faces

The lives of director Jafar Panahi and three actresses from Iranian cinemas past, present and future momentarily converge.

Back in the driver’s seat after Tehran Taxi, Jafar Panahi joins renowned Iranian actress Behnaz Jafari (Sound and Fury, The Girl’s House) on an urgent road trip to the remote East Azerbaijan province after she receives a cry for help from a fan on social media. Panahi ushers the focus away from himself and toward Behnaz and two other actresses, each from distinct generations and periods of Iranian cinema, whose paths intersect.

Following the fearless declaration that he intends to keep making films despite the 20-year ban handed down by the Islamic Revolutionary Court, 3 Faces is the director’s most emboldened foray into filmmaking since his arrest. Where Panahi was confined to his car in Tehran Taxi, in 3 Faces he steps outside, imbuing the film with a profound sense of freedom despite his lack thereof.

3 Faces premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival where Jafar Panahi and Nader Saeivar won the award for Best Screenplay.

“Such generosity of spirit is its own quietly fierce act of cinematic defiance.” - Variety