The Witness

In Iran, retired dance teacher Tarlan leads a quiet life until she witnesses her friend Rana being killed by Rana's husband, a powerful government figure. When the police shrug off the case and local leaders signal that silence is the safer path, Tarlan is left weighing whether to protect her reputation or to speak out. The narrative follows her cautious, sometimes faltering decisions as social pressure and personal risk increase around her. Small acts of courage and the cost of truth are measured throughout daily.

Released in 2025, The Witness was directed by Nader Saeivar and created by Jafar Panahi, with Maryam Boubani leading as Tarlan alongside Nader Naderpour, Ghazal Shojaei, Hana Kamkar, and Abbas Imani in supporting roles, shot in Iran with sparse release.

It received a limited domestic and festival run, so no wide box office figures are publicly available. The film's distribution focused on select theaters and festivals, yielding modest, mostly regional returns rather than a major commercial presence in international markets.

Critics and viewers have discussed The Witness as part of wider conversations about gender, authority, and accountability in Iran, praising how an intimate personal story raises public issues. The film has sparked debate about civic courage, the risks faced by whistleblowers, and the role of art in questioning power today.

Reviews skew positive for Maryam Boubani's restrained lead performance and the film's moral tension, though some critics noted its deliberate pace. On user ratings it holds a 7.235/10 from 17 votes, with many commentators focusing on accountability, reputation, and the cost of speaking out and communal silence after such events.