Iron Island

A rusty oil tanker abandoned at sea has become a home for Iran's poorest in Mohammad Rasoulof's compassionate social critique.

Off the southern coast of Iran in the light blue waters of the Persian Gulf, an abandoned oil tanker has become home for a community of displaced and otherwise homeless people squeezed out of Iran's status quo. Leading the community is authoritarian Captain Nemat (Ali Nassirian) who offers work to the male tenants quietly gutting the ship of scrap metal and oil reserves.

His dominant presence commands a precarious harmony amongst the tenants who are unaware that the rusted ship is quietly sinking with them in it.

Curator's note

For his second feature film, Mohammad Rasoulof gave us a richly drawn and multi-layered allegorical work that is both gripping and deeply thought-provoking.

The film offers a humanistic statement on class structure and privilege, however, beneath the surface are more political readings on unchecked power, authoritarianism and exploitation.

Iron Island premiered in Directors' Fortnight at the 58th Cannes Film Festival. The film screened at ACMI that year, and now returns to our cinemas 19 years later.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)