Subtraction (M)

When Farzaneh spots a man on a city bus who looks an awful lot like her husband, Jalal, she follows him to an unfamiliar building. There, she sees the residents greet him as if they know him and watches from the street as he enters an apartment to meet with another woman.

Three months pregnant and barely present in her job as a driving instructor, Farzaneh is convinced she’s caught Jalal in an affair. When they discuss it, he’s adamant about his alibi, reminding her that he was miles away at the time. Farzaneh begins to fall apart, but she swears she saw him, and, unable to let go, she continues to pull on the thread before making an unsettling discovery about the man on the bus.

Cast: Taraneh Alidoosti, Navid Mohammadzadeh

Director: Mani Haghighi

★★★★ "Somehow, Haghighi translates this ingenious bit of fantasy into a work of social realism. The premise may be incredible but the way it plays out is not." SMH

"A masterwork of realistic fantasy" NEW YORKER

"Tehran noir at its most exquisite; rust reds and ochres, sand and shadow, near constant rain. Cinematographer Morteza Najafi's moody hues provide the perfect backdrop for incredible performances..." THE STRANGER