Paziraie sadeh

This Iranian film presents a twisted tale about a mysterious duo from Tehran who hand out large sums of money in a poor mountain town near the border. Initially a dark comedy, the film’s tone shifts as the antics of Kaveh (played by director Mani Haghighi) and Leyla (Taraneh Alidoosti) grow increasingly depraved, devising creative methods to degrade the money’s recipients. The protagonists’ lack of morality is often disturbing, and their web of deceit is as baffling to the audience as it is to the villagers portrayed in the film. What is the nature of their relationship, and why are they distributing money to those in need? “Modest Reception” offers no straightforward answers or tidy conclusions; instead, Haghighi invites viewers on a captivating journey into the darker aspects of human nature.