Maryam and Mani

Maryam is in charge of a large family, The family house is about to be auctioned due to delay in paying the bank installments. Maryam, who is suffering from poverty, at the opportunity she finds, steals a lot of money from a company’s member. This film is one of the few films in Iranian cinema before the revolution in which the protagonist, writer, and director are women. However, the film was banned that year and was released in 1980.

Directed by Shahrzad, Maryam and Mani leans on a strong ensemble — Manoucher Ahmadi, Pouri Banaei, Anik Shefrazian — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1979.