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Trailer

This Is Not a Film

2011Movie1 h 18 min

Documentary
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic906.3Rotten Tomatoes97%69%

A moving documentary movie about society and everyday modern life, with standout direction.

Good for friends night · teens · drop-in friendly

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Not for scares, romance or adrenaline.

Movies with

Story

If we could tell a film, then why make a film?

Renowned Iranian director Jafar Panahi received a 6-year prison sentence and a 20-year ban from filmmaking and conducting interviews with foreign press due to his open support for the opposition party in Iran's 2009 election. In this film, which was shot secretly by Panahi's close friend Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and smuggled into France on a USB stick concealed inside a cake for a last-minute submission to Cannes, Panahi documents his daily life under house arrest as he awaits a decision on his appeal.

Feels like

  • Clandestine Documentary
  • Political Resistance
  • Meta-Cinematic Reflection
  • Iranian Social Satire
  • Domestic Confinement
  • Artistic Defiance
  • Intimate Portrait
  • Bureaucratic Absurdity
  • Cannes Submission Story

Cast

2 of 2

Crew

Directed by
Jafar Panahi, Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
Written by
Jafar Panahi
Produced by
Jafar Panahi
Music by
Javad Emami

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 27, 2011 · 1 h 18 min · Documentary

Released
September 27, 2011
Runtime
1 h 18 min
Genres
Documentary
Original language
Persian
Made in
Iran
Box office
$69,659
Available in
40 countries

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream This Is Not a Film?"

Questions about This Is Not a Film

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream This Is Not a Film?

KanopyHoopla

In the United States, This Is Not a Film streams on Kanopy, and it is free with ads on Hoopla. It also streams in 37 other countries.

Is This Is Not a Film worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 90). Critics rate it higher (94 out of 100) than audiences (69).

Is This Is Not a Film plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

Will This Is Not a Film make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly satire (8 of 10) and absurd humor (7 of 10).

Is This Is Not a Film in English?

Persian

No, it was made in Persian.