Baran

Critics Consensus

The lyrical Baran is a moving film, both for its love story and political underpinnings.

89%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,696

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Movie Info

Young Latif works on a Tehran construction site with his fellow Iranians and a few illegal Afghan workers. When Latif is given heavier tasks to accommodate new Afghan worker Rahmat, he resents his displacement and treats Rahmat cruelly. After one of his pranks, though, Latif discovers Rahmat's secret -- he is a girl. Latif's heart softens to Rahmat and he shows his new affection for her by doing what he can to ease the hardships she suffers at work. When government inspectors force all Afghans to be fired from the site, Lateef discovers he cannot bear to be without her. Jeopardizing social standing and endangering his own well being, Latif stops at nothing to save his love.

Rating:

PG (for language and brief violence)
Genre:

Art House & International, Drama
Directed By:

Majid Majidi
Written By:

Majid Majidi
In Theaters:

May 3, 2002 limited
On Disc/Streaming:

Oct 22, 2002
Runtime:

94 minutes
Studio:

Miramax Films

Cast

Hossein Abedini
as Latif

Zahra Bahrami
as Baran

Mohammad Amir Naji
as Memar

Hossein Mahjoub
as Bric a Brac Trader

Abbas Rahimi
as Soltan

Gholam Ali Bakhshi
as Najaf

Jafar Tawakoli
as Inspector

Hossein Rahimi
as Soltan

View All

Critic Reviews for Baran

All Critics (62) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (7)

The film is remarkable for the naturalistic acting of its cast, particularly the tender performances of the two leads, Hossein Abedini and Zahra Bahrami.

March 23, 2010 | Full Review…

Ted Shen
Chicago Reader
Top Critic
Quote not available.

June 17, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Top Critic
Quote not available.

February 6, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Top Critic
Uma comovente (e divertida) histria de amor.

August 24, 2003 | Rating: 5/5

Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
Top Critic
Filled with honest performances and exceptional detail, Baran is a gentle film with dramatic punch, a haunting ode to humanity.

June 22, 2003 | Full Review…

Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic
a wonderfully warm human drama that remains vividly in memory long after viewing

March 30, 2003 | Rating: B | Full Review…

John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
Top Critic
It stays with you in fleeting images of gazing faces, muddy footprints, small fires lit against the chill.

December 20, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/4

Misha Berson
Seattle Times
Top Critic
The faces of its inarticulate characters tell the story, and Majidi has put some amazing faces on the screen.

December 19, 2002 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Top Critic
Quote not available.

December 16, 2002 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic
It reminds us of what a film can be when it's drawn from the heart of an artist who believes in the medium as something more than a product or commodity.

December 13, 2002 | Rating: 4/4

Jay Carr
Boston Globe
Top Critic
The film's sharp, often mischievous sense of humor will catch some off guard...

November 1, 2002 | Rating: A-

Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Top Critic
This rather superficial arthouse middle-brow film knows how to please a crowd, and that's about all it does well.

October 24, 2002 | Rating: C | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Top Critic

View All Critic Reviews (62)

Audience Reviews for Baran

May 01, 2011

It was a very interesting look at life in Iran. Little more can be said for it. The premise was rather obsurd. After hating the person who took his job, he finds out it is a woman and suddenly gives up everything for her. All this without ever saying anything to her. She of course, has no interest. The acting wasn't particularly good. The pace was okay, but nothing special to hold a person's interest.

Cynthia S Super Reviewer
May 11, 2009

Baran" is a simple, human, beautiful, touching, wonderful story. Exposing the situation of the Afghans refugees in Iran, after the Sovjet invasion, their civil war and the Taliban regime, this film also gives a lesson of humanity, sympathy and generosity. The actors and actresses have very realistic performances, showing an excellent direction and the character Baran does not speak any word along the story, using only her facial expression to disclose her inner feelings. And the sacrifice of Lateef to please the family of "Baran" shows a pure and platonic love. BARAN is another excellent film that qualifies as one more of the finest Iranian dramas. Off course from Majid Majidi. Who else?

Daisy M Super Reviewer
May 30, 2008

Here's an interesting movie by Majid Majidi. The story plot centralizes around young Lateef, a seventeen year old, who one day meets an Afghan worker named Rahmat. Rahmat takes the place of his father at a construction site in the city, and for a while Lateef treats him cruelly. Until one day, he realizes that Rahmat is truly Baran. He begins to fall in love with her. Hossein Abedini and Zahra Bahrami stars. Worth seeing!

Leo L Super Reviewer
May 28, 2007

Wonderful and absolutely fantastic. Majid Majidi's work is a new humanist. 84/100

Edgar C Super Reviewer