The Buffalo

A couple, Shokufeh and Iman who plan to flee Iran travel to the port city of Anzali to meet a man who is to smuggle them across the border. They await him by the side of a lagoon. They accidentally drop their bag of money and jewelry into the lagoon. Iman tries to jump in and find the bag but drowns in the process. A diver called Bahram the Buffalo is assigned to find Iman’s body in the lagoon and a relationship begins to develop between him and Shokufeh…

Directed by Kaveh Sajadi Hoseini, The Buffalo leans on a strong ensemble — Parviz Parastouei, Soheila Golestani, Pantea Panahiha — 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 crime titles of 2015.