The Crowd

Hamed, a young, Iranian, gay man hails from a well-off religious family and shares a middle-class flat with his partner, Raman, who is set to emigrate in a few days. Raman is upset that he cannot spend his last days with their large group of close-knit, Gen Z friends because they don’t have an appropriate, safe venue to gather. Hamed, determined to help, decides to hold an underground party in a vacant warehouse belonging to his family, but without alerting the other owners. However, their path is plagued with conflict: an unresolved argument over the accidental death of a friend and a conservative elder brother who looks upon their lives with disdain, further resolves to stop the celebration. Despite the enthusiasm of their colourful group of friends to carve out a space to experience individual freedoms, the spectre of Iran’s patriarchal regime looms over their furtive plans.

With his debut feature, Sahand Kabiri presents a personal portrait of middle-class young adult life in contemporary Tehran. Framed with Iran’s present-day atmosphere, The Crowd is a touching and vibrant tribute to those leaving and those who have left.