Synopsis

For the past 12 years, twin sisters Massoumeh and Zaha have been locked inside their home by their protective father. They can barely speak or walk normally due to their limited interaction with the outside world. After neighbours urge the local welfare agency to intervene, the two girls are let out of the house for the first time in their lives, and both parent and children begin to learn more about life outside those four walls.

Based on a true story, The Apple explores topics such as society and religion in an Iran trying to find a balance between tradition and the modern world. The family featured in the film are portrayed by their real-life counterparts, resulting in raw, honest performances that blur the lines between documentary and narrative cinema.

Samira Makhmalbaf—daughter of acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Mahkmalbaf—was only 17 years old when she wrote and directed The Apple. In the context of Iran’s deeply-rooted patriarchal society, the film is an empathic breakthrough against barriers of age and gender. Programmed as part of our Women in Charge section, Makhmalbaf film is one of three that shines the spotlight on women filmmakers, in acknowledgement of the structural and institutional challenges they face.

Movie Trailer