From the get-go, Panahis directorial debut masquerades itself as a heartwarming family dramedy.
Thefamily dynamicsare light, playful, and even adorably addictive when you considerRayan Sarlaks performance as the younger brother.
Even their sickly dog is along for the ride, but something isnt right.
Image via Federico Napoli
But as the narrative progresses, the weight of the truth gets too heavy to hide under.
This is not your run-of-the-mill family getaway, its some sort of farewell.
Butas picturesque as things are, everything is not what it seems.
Image Via Kino Lorber
This isnt just a drive across the country theyre secretly smuggling their eldest son out of Iran after all.
No one actually says the words, but the tension is lingering in the background of every scene.
Its there in the dads (Hassan Majooni) eyes whenever he cracks a joke.
“We just travel to travel.”
In one scene that makes this painfully obvious, the younger brother performs a full-blownmusical number.
Hes not as amused as everyone, in fact, hes quiet and distant.
Theres bickering over nothing, playfulness, shenanigans, and tons of laughs.
But the scenery shifts, and so does the mood.
The road itself was brimming with lush scenery that soon transformed into empty landscapes.
In the same way, the atmosphere in the car shifts to something a lot quieter.
And thats the pointthe road reflects what the family cant say out loud.
Its one of those scenes where no dialogue is needed to communicate.
Besides being a physical path, the road signifies loss, unwanted change, and an uncertain future.
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