3 Faces – Serokh (2018)

Directed by: Jafar Panahi | 100 minutes | drama | Actors: Behnaz Jafari, Jafar Panahi, Marziyeh Rezaei, Maedeh Erteghaei, Narges Delaram

What are the boundaries between documentary and drama? In the highly personal ‘3 Faces’ Iranian film director Jafar Panahi visits the village in which he grew up for a portrait of the local population, told through the lens of a simple story about a search for a missing girl.

Jafar Panahi plays himself in the film, accompanied by actress Behnaz Jafari (also as herself). After a disturbing video in which a girl from his native village seems to commit suicide, they interrupt their shooting day and travel to the village. Along the way, they meet the locals, each of whom has their own opinion about the girl and the celebrities who visit them.

‘3 Faces’ is a special film, because although Panahi and Jafari play themselves, the story is fictional (but certainly inspired by personal experiences). Although Panahi has had a film ban from the Iranian government for 20 years, he managed to film in his hometown, thanks to old acquaintances. When Panahi talks to the villagers, the film at times resembles a documentary with Panahi as the interviewer, until a new dramatic turn propels the story further. So we learn that the girl wanted to go to drama school, but her conservative family didn’t allow it. Although the Iranian regime seems distant, it gives us an insight into the clash between modernity and tradition.

The documentary-like ‘fly on the wall’ style that Panahi uses takes some getting used to for those who are used to Western drama, but gives the film an intimate and hyper-realistic atmosphere that really brings the setting to life. The contrast between old and new thus becomes clearly visible, despite the cryptic rendering. Given this theme and topics such as suicide being discussed, it’s not hard to see why the Iranian regime doesn’t like Panahi – he looks critically and openly at society and of course they shouldn’t. At the same time, it is very refreshing to see Iran from the perspective of the Iranians themselves – while there are certainly problems, the Iran of ‘3 Faces’ is not a stereotypical Hollywood desert full of bearded terrorists who do nothing but oppress women. It is a land full of stories of ordinary and unusual people, who are all trying to find their way in the modern world.