Estonian premiere
No Bears
A director from Tehran secretly travels to the countryside to shoot a film about a young couple who want to flee abroad. He himself hides in a simple dwelling during the day. When a villager accuses him of taking unauthorised photos of him, the village elders drag him before a lay court. He consents – on the condition that he may film the proceedings with his camera.
"No Bears" is a powerful drama about the power of images, the contrasts between urban and rural Iran, and filmmaking under a regime that restricts artistic freedom. The fact that director and lead actor Jafar Panahi was recently imprisoned by the Iranian judiciary only adds urgency to this plea for artistic freedom.
Winner of Special Jury Prize in Venice Film Festival.
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