Pari

An Iranian couple arrives in Athens, Greece. They come to visit their studying son but he fails to pick them up from the airport as promised. A bit lost in translation and overwhelmed by the unknown city they take a taxi to the address they have for him, but he is not to be found there either…

Confused they set out in search of him. The city is grim, covered with smoke and graffiti and heavy protests are ongoing. Since her much older strictly religious husband doesn’t speak a word of English the traditional Muslim wife, Pari, has to do the talking. Where her husband wants to turn to the authorities, Pari can’t ignore her mother’s heart that doesn’t want to wait but move, search and find. Forging alliances with strangers, visiting shady parts of the city she turns into a true detective and learns as much about herself as about the fate of her son. 

Iranian director Siamak Etemadi studied in Athens. During those years he picked up his parents from the airport regularly. One day he thought: what if I wouldn’t show up?
His first feature length film is an intense portrait of a city and its people of different generations and cultures. A tale of emancipation and political awakening. 

English subtitles