Below are several films that were banned by Iranian authorities to be shown in Iranian theaters:
Café Setareh directed by Saman Moghadam is a film about the lives of three women living in a poor neighborhood in Tehran who face challenges and struggles to maintain a living. Fariba supports herself and family by managing a small cafe in the district with no support from her jobless, alcoholic husband. Young and beautiful Saloomeh dreams of marrying Ebi. She wants for more comfortable life, but Ebi, a mechanic, cannot even pay for a wedding or apartment. Moluk, a middle-aged woman, has fallen for a younger man, but it's an unrequited love. The film was banned by the Iranian authorities who blamed the film for showing the corrupt images of women and the decadent use of language between female and male actresses and for displaying an image where alcohol can be served. The film also blamed to compose of images of Western ideas.
Fariba, owner of Cafe Setareh, must put up with her abusive and unemployed husband Fereydoon
Saloumeh caring for her semi-blind father who is well respected in the neighborhood. She hopes to gain his blessing for marrying Ebi.
Saloumeh's "sophisticated" friend chatters on about the faults of men once they become husbands displaying a corrupt image of woman who cannot be settled for a marriage. The "sophisticated woman" wants to live in western world where she doesnt have to have to marry an Iranian man so that she could be free of all the duties acquired for a mother, such as taking care of her kids.
Making the preparations for her "date" with Khosro who is a much younger. Dating without the permission of parents and elders not approved by the authorities to be shown in films.
The circle directed by Jafar Panahi is one of the boldest films made in Iran. It deals with the obstacles women face in contemporary Iran. His use of realism as the camera, which caputures scenes in the streets, where it shows the dark sides of the women’s lives such as prostitution, abortion and divorce.
Santouri is a banned Irainian Film that faced many controversies by Iranian film industry. The Film is about a master master of the Iranian santour stringed musical instrument whose addiction to heroin destroys his marriage and sends him to a mental asylum. The hero's sensual wife sings to herself frequently in the film, the pair attend illicit mixed-sex parties with dancing and drinking, and as their marriage breaks down.
Offside is another movie directed by Jafar Panahi is about a about girls who try to watch a World Cup qualifying match but are forbidden by law because of their sex. Female fans are not allowed to enter football stadiums in Iran on the grounds that there will be a high risk of violence or verbal abuse against them. The film was inspired by director Jafar Panahi's daughter, who decided to attend a game anyway.
