Dramas elevate Iran cinema but it's comedy that sells

There are around 750 screens in the Islamic republic, and going to the movies is a preferred leisure activity for people seeking distraction from often difficult daily lives. An Iranian film may be in competition at this year's Cannes, but it was comedy that monopolised the top six box office places in the Iranian year 2023-2024 that ended in March. During those 12 months, 28 million cinema tickets were sold in Iran. "These films offer a simple plot and structure that make them accessible to everyone,"...