Upcoming Screening of Tales by Rakhshan Banietemad in Minneapolis
Part of Mizna Film Series: Iranian Classics
Noori Pictures is proud to share that acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Rakhshan Banietemad's award-winning film Tales will screen this Saturday, July 26 at 1:00 PM at Trylon Cinema in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as part of the Mizna Film Series: Iranian Classics.
Event details
The 2025 Mizna Film Series presents some of our favorite archival classics from the past 60 years of Iran’s cinema history. Beginning with a beloved class from Abbas Kiarostami and ending with a tribute to Dariush Mehrjui, we’re proud to present these films in collaboration with the Twin Cities Iranian Culture Collective and the Trylon Cinema. Learn more about the Mizna Film Series here.
Following the successful screening of Gilaneh earlier this week, Tales continues this special double feature highlighting Banietemad’s powerful portrayals of contemporary Iranian society.
Composed of seven interconnected stories, each delving into the struggles and complexities of working-class life and labor, Tales reflects on myriad social, political, and personal crises facing modern Iranians. Blending documentary and narrative forms, the film subverts expectations and examines the relationship between reality and storytelling, blurring these lines to examine the impacts of drug addiction, domestic violence, and union crackdowns, all bound up in a critique of an overly bureaucratic state. Selected to compete and screen at many renowned events, like the Venice International Film Festival and TIFF, Banietemad’s film is as relevant today as it was upon its release.
Only at our upcoming Mizna Film Series screenings! Watch the films of renowned Iranian filmmaker Rakhshan Banietemad + a post-screening discussion between the filmmaker and professor Sima Shakhsari.
Tickets and more information are available at mizna.org
This screening is presented in partnership with Mizna, a Minneapolis-based Arab American arts organization, and Trylon Cinema.
About the Director
Rakhshan Banietemad is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Iranian cinema. Her body of work, spanning over three decades, foregrounds the lives of women and the working class, often challenging censorship and social taboos. Her films are marked by a deep sense of realism, emotional intelligence, and political consciousness.
About the Film
Tales (2014)
Directed by Rakhshan Banietemad
Written by Rakhshan Banietemad
Runtime: 88 minutes
Language: Persian (with English subtitles)
Genre: Drama / Social Realism
In Tales, Banietemad returns to the lives of characters from her earlier films, weaving together seven interlinked storiesthat illuminate the struggles, dignity, and complexity of working-class Iranians navigating personal and political hardship. Through these intersecting narratives, the film addresses issues such as domestic violence, labor rights, addiction, unemployment, and state bureaucracy with honesty, subtlety, and compassion.
Stylistically, Tales blurs the lines between fiction and documentary. Banietemad, often referred to as "the First Lady of Iranian Cinema," draws on her journalistic sensibility to create a deeply human portrait of a society in flux. Her camera moves with restraint and empathy, allowing the voices of her characters—particularly women—to emerge with strength and nuance.
For press inquiries or additional information about international distribution and festival bookings for Tales, please contact info@nooripictures.com