This film was among the last I watched while working my way through this year’s Oscar contenders. It's a French-Iranian co-production that received and won Academy Awards for Iran, coming from a filmmaker who has previously earned that same recognition. While I enjoy Hollywood films, I consider myself a true film enthusiast because I appreciate cinema from around the world; consequently, I’ve seen many of this year’s submissions in the Foreign Language Film category. There were numerous films superior to this one that didn't even make it into the final nominations, including 'Under Sandet,' which I believed would win. The outcome felt largely due to the impact of Trump, similar to how ‘Moonlight’ secured the main award. It wasn't an average film like 'A Separation', though it fell short of being a masterpiece akin to 'The Past', which was surprisingly overlooked by the Academy. It occupies a space somewhere between those two films. The title doesn’t quite align with the story itself, but it served to extend the plot by roughly twenty to thirty minutes—an unnecessary subplot that proved to be the most tedious part. One could argue this was intended to appeal to Western audiences using familiar elements, and in that regard, it succeeded for the filmmakers. Aside from those theatrical scenes, the rest of the movie felt like a French thriller. The story centers on a young couple forced to move after their apartment building is deemed unsafe due to nearby construction. The man works as a teacher and also participates in theater productions alongside his wife. Their life was normal until an incident involving his wife at home while he was away. He then seeks vengeance for what happened, and the events that unfold afterward introduce another unexpected twist. > ❝It's obvious you’re not the one who found your wife the other day, otherwise you wouldn’t say that.❞ The beginning was quite slow; the opening felt rushed, and the pacing subsequently slowed to build momentum. This doesn’t necessarily mean the characters were well-developed; it primarily served to establish elements needed for later in the film. The tone shifts noticeably when it reaches the third act, feeling like a completely different movie—a different genre altogether. The finale is intensely tense with a tightly constructed plot, effectively erasing everything that came before. Whatever transpired during that portion felt justified, although I suspect it differs culturally from what many expect. It doesn't reflect the philosophical views or religious beliefs typically associated with Iran. While Western films have often misrepresented them, given their history, the film’s ending was jarring. I interpreted the final chaos as a conflict among themselves; had outsiders been involved, the situation would likely have been handled differently. The performances were strong, but the screenplay wasn't flawless, which I mentioned earlier. Furthermore, I felt let down by the development of one particular mysterious character who only appears late in the film. The narration maintains suspense and a thriller-like quality until abruptly collapsing as the conclusion draws near. How this enigmatic figure was apprehended didn’t quite make sense realistically—though that's less of an issue for a work of fiction. Overall, it’s a good film, though perhaps not as exceptional as its praise or Oscar win suggests. It’s certainly worth watching. The setting was well-done, with the exception of the ending, which elicits differing reactions depending on individual perspectives and how they perceive the appropriate response to such a situation. Ultimately, there's a somewhat positive message at the end, but it isn't necessarily a moral one, as it seems to favor destruction over goodness—a sentiment that often prevails regardless of who is involved. _6.5/10_

Source on TMDB