No Bears (Iran 2022)

We all see daily what is happening in Iran. However, over the years, our Meetup has shown films which open up the lives of Iranian people in far deeper depth than we can see on newsfeeds about the war.

Jafar Panahi must be one of the most remarkable film directors ever. No Bears was filmed secretly in Iran and then banned by the Iranian regime. It is true to reality but the title gives away a faint hope. "Bears" are a symbol of optimism: there will be a day when there are no "bears" in Iran. This film is a must-see. Some reviewers have written:

"Freedom or art? What if there’s no choice at all? Fearless Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has endured both house arrest and prison in his tireless quest to tell stories that matter under duress". (Flicks, NZ, AU, UK)

In spite of travel bans, house arrests and actual imprisonment... Jafar Panahi has managed to create a body of work that movingly describes life in a censorious theocracy. Banned in Iran, No Bears is a subtle and tricky drama within a drama. (Irish Independent)

It’s deceptively simple: the more you think about it, the more layers there seem to be and the more you realise how much this film has to say about lives made small by restrictions that can, and do, result in tragedy. (Spectator UK)

In the author’s latest masterpiece, every moment is suffused with not just purpose, but captivating beauty. (Washington Post, USA)