Three women who live in a poor neighborhood in Tehran actively seek a better life in this contemporary slice of Iranian life. CAFE SETAREH focuses on Fariba, Saloomeh, and Moluk in a triptych of warm-hearted, interwoven stories. Fariba operates the café of the title, while her alcoholic, unemployed husband sponges off her; Saloomeh debates on whether to marry Ebi, whose one good deed doesn’t make up for his mean, controlling streak; and Moluk, a middle-aged landlady, pines for a man who has his own problems. Directed by talented newcomer Saman Moghadam (Maxx), CAFE SETAREH offers an authentic portrait of women, and as noted in Variety, “…in a country theoretically oppressive of women’s full expression, Iranian cinema is second to none as a delivery vehicle for rich dramas about women.”

Shanghai International Film Festival, Official Selection

Written and directed by Saman Moghadam. With Afsaneh Baygan, Pejman Bazeghi, Haniyeh Tavasoli, Roya Teimourian, Hamed Behdad, Masoud Raygan, and Nikoo Kheradmand. Cinematography by Bahram Badakhshani. Original music by Amir Tavasoli. Edited by Mohammad Reza Moueini. Produced by Mostafa Shayesteh for Hedeyat Film as released by Nima Pictures/Iranian Film Society.
Iran/2005/Color/Widescreen/102 mins. In Persian with English subtitles,All-Zone NTSC DVD
Special Features: Original Trailer, Music Video, Photo Gallery, Scene Selection