At Sundance 2026, Maryam Ataei and Hossein Keshavarz unveiled The Friend’s House Is Here, a daring portrait of Tehran’s underground art scene. The film captures the fragile balance between youthful freedom and the looming threat of state repression, offering a deeply human story of resilience, friendship, and hope. The movie opens with an immersive theater performance, immediately disorienting the audience before grounding them in the reality of Iran’s hidden creative circles. What begins as a lively depiction of parties, debates, and artistic camaraderie soon shifts into a tense narrative about surveillance, censorship, and the risks of self-expression.
Friendship at the Heart of the Story
At the center of the story are Pari (Mahshad Bahraminejad), a pragmatic theater leader, and Hana (Hana Mana), her free-spirited roommate who films herself dancing in public spaces — a dangerous act in Iran. Their contrasting personalities highlight the tension between caution and defiance. Pari fears Hana’s recklessness could lead to arrest, a concern that becomes chillingly real when the Ministry of Culture intrudes into their lives.
Everyday Life Under Pressure
The film’s long takes and conversational flow create intimacy, gradually revealing the precariousness of everyday life. Small details — sleepless nights caused by bombings, jokes about wartime evacuations, overheard warnings at an art gallery — accumulate into a portrait of a society where danger lurks beneath normalcy.
Art Imitates Reality
Though fictional, the film draws heavily from reality. Bahraminejad is a founding member of a real improvisational troupe, while Mana’s viral social-media videos inspired her casting. The production itself was shot underground, with filmmakers risking exposure and imprisonment. Their courage mirrors the bravery of the characters onscreen.
Hope Amid Uncertainty
Despite its sobering themes, The Friend’s House Is Here radiates warmth. The bond between Pari and Hana — marked by arguments, laughter, and sacrifice — underscores the power of friendship in times of uncertainty. Ataei and Keshavarz suggest that solidarity and love are not only acts of resistance but also the essence of survival. As Iran’s artists continue to face mounting restrictions, the film resonates as both a warning and a beacon. It reminds audiences that even in the harshest conditions, creativity and community endure.
