Boomerang (2024 German-Iranian film)

Boomerang
Directed byShahab Fotouhi
Written byShahab Fotouhi
Produced by
  • Luise Hauschild
  • Mariam Shatberashvili
Starring
CinematographyFaraz Fesharaki
Edited byAlexandre Koberidze
Pouya Parsamagham
Music byPanagiotis Mina
Production
company
New Matter Films
Release date
  • 28 August 2024 (2024-08-28) (Venice)
Running time
83 minutes
CountriesGermany
Iran
LanguagePersian

Boomerang is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Shahab Fotouhi, in his directorial debut.

A co-production between Germany and Iran, the film had its world premiere in the Giornate degli Autori section of the 81st Venice International Film Festival.

Plot

Cast

  • Arash Naimian as Behzad
  • Leili Rashidi as Sima
  • Yas Farkhondeh as Minoo
  • Ali Hanafian as Keyvan
  • Shaghayeh Djodat as Sadaf

Production

The film was produced by New Matter Films, with Rainy Pictures and Zohal Films serving as co-producers.[1] The director cited Abbas Kiarostami's The Report among his sources of inspiration.[1]

Release

The film premiered at the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival, in the Giornate degli Autori sidebar.[1]

Reception

Variety's critic Siddhant Adlakha praised the film, describing it as "a delightful, surprising portrait of modern Iran" that "paints metropolitan Tehran with youthful verve, capturing [...] the city's vibes during a moment of generational transition".[2]

Marc van de Klashorst from International Cinephile Society referred to the film as "an insightful and sharply observed film about relationships and the erosion of manhood with a unique artistic approach that harkens back to one of the most lauded and remarkable films of recent years.".[3]

Vittoria Scarpa from Cineuropa described the film as "outside the canons", and wrote: "Boomerang is one of those films that requires an active viewer to put the pieces of the puzzle together [...], but it becomes captivating if you let yourself be carried away by the flow of the narrative without asking too many questions".[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Balaga, Marta (4 September 2024). "Shahab Fotouhi's Venice Premiere 'Boomerang' Proves 'Personal Is Political' as Iranian Film Debuts Clip". Variety. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  2. ^ Adlakha, Siddhant (1 September 2024). "'Boomerang' Review: A Fresh, Leisurely Look at a Changing Tehran". Variety. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ van de Klashorst, Marc (2 September 2025). "Venice 2025 review: Boomerang (Shahab Fotouhi)". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. ^ Scarpa, Vittoria (2 September 2024). "Review: Boomerang". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 October 2025.