Leyla's Siblings (Film)

Leyla’s Siblings focuses on 40-year-old Leyla’s struggle to keep her family afloat. Throughout her life, Leyla has done nothing but care for her mother and father and her four adult brothers. To rescue her family from the economic dead end they have fallen into, she devises a plan. However, her father Ismail, indifferent to his family’s future, is obsessed with maintaining his position as a traditional patriarchal leader, the tribal chief. The film examines this intergenerational conflict and the personal sacrifices it demands.

^{Leyla's father and brother. (}Source⁾

• Taraneh Alidoosti – Leyla
• Saeed Poursamimi – Ismail
• Navid Mohammadzadeh – Aliriza
• Payman Maadi – Farhad
• Farhad Aslani – Manouçer
• Mohammad Ali Mohammadi – Parviz

(Cast of the film, Beyazperde)

Through the character of Leyla, the film explores the patriarchal structure of Iranian society and the pressure it exerts on women. While Leyla fights to keep her family alive in a world controlled by men, her father Ismail and characters like him represent traditional male dominance. In the film, Leyla’s mother is not even named, a detail that underscores the erasure of women’s identity in society.

The film draws attention to the impact of the U.S. embargo on Iran and its effects on the people. As Leyla and her brothers struggle to survive amid economic hardship, their father is solely focused on gaining status. This theme critiques a system that disregards the living conditions of individuals and families.

(Leyla’s Siblings Film Trailer, YouTube)

The film portrays a family caught between tradition and modernity , sharply highlighting the ideological differences between generations. Ismail’s desire to claim a traditional title without considering his family’s future lays bare the impasse between the old and the new.

As a character who strives to hold her family together, Leyla embodies the conflict between personal aspirations and familial obligations. This tension reflects a universal narrative of individuals caught between living their own lives and fulfilling their duties to their families.

⁽Taraneh Alidoosti as Leyla, Beyazperde⁾

Roustayi maintains a tense atmosphere throughout the film, drawing viewers into the characters’ inner worlds. Scenes juxtaposing poverty and wealth vividly highlight Iran’s economic and social stratification. The use of spaces such as shopping malls and lavish weddings underscores the deep chasm between riches and destitution.

(Saeed Roustayi, Mubi)

Saeed Roustayi is an Iranian film director and screenwriter born on 14 August 1989 in Tehran. A graduate of the Film and Television department at Soore University, Roustayi began his cinematic career with numerous short films and documentaries. His first major work, Life+1 Day, won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Director and Best Screenplay at the Fajr International Film Festival. His follow-up film, 6.5 Metres, expanded his international acclaim. His 2022 film Leyla’s Siblings was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and won the FIPRESCI Prize. Roustayi’s cinematic language is characterized by a profound exploration of social injustice, economic crises, and the position of women in Iranian society.

Leyla’s Siblings stands out as a deeply layered film centered on family values, individual struggles, and societal pressures. Saeed Roustayi’s masterful storytelling offers sharp insights into social injustice while successfully conveying a universal narrative. Its success at the Cannes Film Festival and the positive reception from international critics have secured its place as a compelling example of modern Iranian cinema.