The Persian Version Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A chaotic Iranian-American family reunion forces a millennial daughter and her tough immigrant mom to finally talk about *why* they can’t stand each other, revealing secrets through flashbacks, dance breaks, and possibly questionable religious interpretations.

🍿 The Persian Version: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Synopsis

When a large Iranian-American family reunites for a gathering, a long-held family secret comes to light. This revelation triggers an emotional journey for the estranged mother and daughter, Shireen and Leila. The uncovering of the secret forces them to confront their pasts and explore their complex relationship. Through flashbacks and shifting perspectives, the film delves into their individual experiences and shared history.

Mother-Daughter Dynamics and Family Secrets

The core of the film revolves around the difficult relationship between Leila, a young Iranian-American woman, and her immigrant mother, Shireen. Their estrangement is a central conflict. The family secret acts as a catalyst, compelling them to look beyond their immediate tensions. By understanding each other’s histories and the challenges they faced, particularly Shireen’s journey as an immigrant, they begin to see their surprising similarities.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Leila (Layla Mohammadi): The estranged Iranian-American daughter whose unplanned pregnancy and father’s health crisis trigger an exploration of her family’s past and her relationship with her mother.
• Shireen (Niousha Noor): The traditional Iranian immigrant mother whose strained relationship with her daughter is complicated by a family secret uncovered during a reunion.
• Young Shireen (Kamand Shafieisabet): The spirited young woman in Iran whose past experiences and secrets shaped the mother her daughter knows today.
• Ali Reza Jamshidpour (Bijan Daneshmand): The father whose health crisis brings the large Iranian-American family together, leading to the uncovering of a crucial family secret.
• Mamanjoon (Bella Warda): The wise and accepting grandmother who bridges the generational gap and shares a unique bond with her granddaughter, Leila.
• Young Mamanjoon (Sachli Gholamalizad): The grandmother in her youth whose experiences in Iran influenced the family’s history and migration.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Leila (Narrator): “Every story has two sides. The truth? Well, that depends on who’s telling it. And trust me, in my family, everyone has a version.” – Spoken directly to the audience, introducing the film’s non-linear structure and the subjective nature of family history.
• Shireen: “I am a bad speller so you can be a good one.” – Said to young Leila, symbolizing Shireen’s sacrifices and her hopes for her daughter to have opportunities she didn’t.
• Leila: “Why do we have to pretend everything is okay?” – Leila expressing frustration with her family’s tendency to hide difficult truths or avoid dealing with emotional issues openly.
• Shireen: “Life is not easy. You think this is easy?” – A sharp retort to Leila, highlighting the hardships and struggles Shireen endured, particularly as an immigrant mother raising a family.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $559,820
• Worldwide Gross: $766,069

💥 The Persian Version Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie hit me right in the feels! As someone with immigrant parents, I felt so seen in Leila’s struggles balancing cultures and just trying to understand her mom. The film captured the crazy energy of big family gatherings so perfectly, it felt like I was back at one of my own! I loved getting to see the mother’s story unfold. It made me think about how little I know about my own parents’ past and everything they went through before they became ‘Mom and Dad’. It really changed my perspective and brought a tear to my eye. Even with the dramatic parts and some heavier themes, there were laugh-out-loud moments and those awesome dance scenes! It felt like a genuine, messy, loving look at family, with all its secrets and complicated history. Definitely recommending this one to friends.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of immigrant stories and cultural exploration”
  • “Those interested in mother-daughter relationships”
  • “Viewers who appreciate blended comedy-dramas”
  • “Individuals with Iranian or Middle Eastern heritage”
  • “Fans of films with strong female leads and perspectives”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Discussion of mature themes (including sexual habits – based on reviews)”
  • “Controversial portrayal and references to religious figures (Islam)”
  • “Some strong language (implied by UK 15 rating)”
  • “Generational conflict and family trauma”

Professional Reviews

• Reviewer 1 (Paraphrased): “This film attempts to balance comedy and drama but feels disjointed, like two different movies awkwardly mashed together. While it champions immigrant women’s resilience and explores family secrets, the humor often falls flat, and the narrative struggles to find a consistent tone. Despite passionate moments, it lacks the depth to truly connect or offer fresh insights into the immigrant experience, making characters feel annoying at times.
• Reviewer 2 (Paraphrased): “A vibrant, heartfelt exploration of mother-daughter dynamics within a sprawling Iranian-American family. The film beautifully captures cultural nuances and the generational divide, offering laughs and tears in equal measure. Strong female leads deliver powerful performances, weaving together themes of identity, trauma, and forgiveness with immersive dialogue and comedic timing. It’s a deeply human story that resonates universally.
• Reviewer 3 (Paraphrased): “More than the slapstick comedy the trailer suggested, this film is a surprisingly deep dive into a cross-generational cultural divide. It excels in providing insight into the mother’s challenging past, shedding light on the origins of the strained relationship. While it features humor and vibrant cultural depictions, its true strength lies in its intensely personal and emotional storytelling, exploring themes of family healing and understanding.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers found the depiction of immigrant family life deeply relatable.: The strong performances from the female leads, the emotional depth of the mother-daughter story, and the film’s ability to evoke both laughter and tears.

Overall Consensus: Audiences are divided but many who share an immigrant background found it deeply relatable, praising the emotional honesty and strong female characters, despite some criticisms regarding tonal inconsistency and specific cultural/religious depictions.

Awards

1. Sundance Film Festival (Audience Award: NEXT)- 2023
2. SXSW Film Festival (Audience Award)- 2023

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is heavily based on the life experiences of writer-director Maryam Keshavarz and her relationship with her mother.”
• “Actress Layla Mohammadi, who plays Leila, is also an Iranian-American and drew upon her own experiences for the role.”
• “The film’s unique style incorporates fourth-wall breaks, vibrant musical numbers, and expressive graphics to tell the story.”
• “Jerry Habibi’s performance was notably highlighted by Letterboxd Magazine as a highly user-desired aspect of the film after its festival premiere.”
• “The production blended filming in the US and Thailand to recreate Iranian and American settings across different time periods.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Persian Version?

As of late 2023 / early 2024, ‘The Persian Version’ became available for digital purchase or rent on various platforms. You can typically find it on major Video On Demand services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies. Availability on subscription streaming services can change, so check platforms like Hulu or Max for current options. Purchasing or renting digitally is the most widely accessible way to watch this film.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Persian Version, you might like these similar films:

• Lady Bird (2017): Explores a complex, often fraught, yet ultimately loving mother-daughter relationship during a young woman’s coming-of-age, similar to the central dynamic in ‘The Persian Version’.
• The Big Sick (2017): A comedy-drama centered on a Pakistani-American dealing with cultural expectations, family obligations, and navigating identity while pursuing a relationship, mirroring the themes of cultural clash and family in ‘The Persian Version’.
• The Farewell (2019): Focuses on a family keeping a difficult secret from their matriarch, exploring cultural differences between Eastern and Western perspectives on family duty, truth, and identity, much like ‘The Persian Version’ uncovers family secrets across generations.
• Minari (2020): Depicts the struggles and resilience of an immigrant family pursuing the American Dream, focusing on intergenerational dynamics, cultural identity, and the challenges of assimilation with both humor and drama.
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002): A widely popular comedy about a young woman from a large, boisterous immigrant family navigating her cultural traditions and family expectations while trying to find her own path and love, sharing the comedic take on large immigrant families and cultural negotiation.

🛒 The Persian Version Related Products

• The Stationery Shop: A sweeping novel about a love story fifty years in the making, exploring themes of fate, migration, and enduring connection, set against the backdrop of Iranian history.
• Persian Cooking: A Food Lover’s Journey from Persia to America: A beautifully illustrated cookbook showcasing authentic Persian recipes, blending traditional flavors with techniques adapted for modern kitchens, capturing the heart of Iranian home cooking.
• Vintage Iranian Pop Music Compilation (1960s-1980s): A curated collection featuring iconic songs from the golden age of Iranian pop music, including artists like Googoosh and Vigen, capturing the vibrant sounds referenced in the movie’s flashbacks and dance scenes.
• The Persian Version Movie Poster: An official movie poster featuring the key cast members, perfect for fans who loved the film’s visual style and emotional story about family and identity.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Persian Version features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Doostesh Daram” – performed by Googoosh
• “Shadom” – performed by Vigen
• “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – performed by Cyndi Lauper
• “Billie Jean” – performed by Michael Jackson
• “Persian Version Theme” – performed by Original Score

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Jerry Habibi is babygirl | THE PERSIAN VERSION | Netflix

Okay, real talk: Jerry Habibi’s portrayal of Abbas in ‘The Persian Version’ is just *everything*. This compilation totally highlights why he’s such a standout character – you seriously need to watch this if you fell for his charm!

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