drawnprophet I recently met Maryam Keshavarz after watching a screening of Circumstance. A lot of the reviews here complain that it is unrealistic and that she has no basis of Iranian culture and that the actors aren't from Iran, etc. But Keshavarz's family is from Iran and she spent a lot of time there as a child. She based Mehran's character off of her uncle who made a similar transition after war. As for the actors, all of them are Iranian. They might not have been living in Iran, but she said all of them are from Iran. And she could not advertise the roles in Iran. Secondly, it doesn't look like Iran BECAUSE IT'S NOT. The director was forced to shoot the film in a different country under great suspicion. This film was shot on actual film, not digital, and all of it happened within the span of six weeks. Which is not that long. The cinematography is phenomenal. And finally. This movie is illegal in Iran. And none of the actors or the director are allowed back to Iran. Ever. I think that says something.I personally thought this movie was beautiful. The cinematography was good. The plot was enticing and wonderfully executed for the budget and restraints they faced. I highly recommend this movie.

fresh-airnov lets start by the point which makes this movie way different from other movies with regards to Iran 1.no one was poor or uncultured or no camel on the street so that is good! 2.people tend to say stuff in other movies but taboos don't let that happen , well we heard it all in this film 3.no one ever talked about this concept (homosexuality)in any iranian movie before (i know this movie was way more that just homosexuality it covered it all!) 4. i happen to know a family quit similar in Iran , and trust me the brother of the family is an idiot just like Mehran he is a basiji while the sister is fooling around 5.finally we see many iranian moves which are good in scenario and concept but directing is weak somehow loose , like normal stuff , you can see the boom or unnatural scene , i didn not find any in this film , the genre was nice and clear not a random lets make a movie thing and thanks to ms.keshavarz we find many good new and old actors/actresses whom we did not know so far , the fact that the director was a female it self made me really glad too finally great job every one loved it at the end i want to thank the choice of music , Zan by a girl rapper . the name of the movie which is indeed best possible choice , for me though it was the circumstance for the father of the family whi changed as well as him! and the girls , well all iranian teens are having same problem

rafighi So unreal. So exaggerated. Since i've watched this film i've started asking myself why and how someone dares to waste money and time to make such a film? Was it a FILM really?!!!!!!! The accents are funny. The actors suck!! (except Ati' mom) There are plenty of goofs. The story is full of lies. The director (?????!!!!!!!!!) needs to wait at least 25 years for her next film. The cars are not the ones which are used in Iran. The praying action is full of mistakes. Mehran's character and acting is awful. The police is not like that in Iran, however they are rude. The hidden camera story in all rooms is more like a joke, everyone is blind in that house?

sillent-star when I saw the advertisement,I told myself that I should see the movie but now I think I just wasted my time.Let's talk about the movie's name , circumstance. It's a good name and it completely talks about the movie.first scene,Atefeh is dancing and Shireen is watching her.then at the school and a teacher who blame Shireen for nothing maybe she wanted to tell that they are rebels in school-I don't know why director put this scene in the movie- then they went to the street and a guy picked them up. the movie continued without any clear goal,then Mehran came and with his unusual obsession who is the symbol of Iran's government and religion.At first he is lovable then a scene in mosque and you can see he became a maniac.Movie finds its goal but director -who I think she never lived in Iran -still shows some scenes that are exaggerated and some how ridicules.At the end movie is finished.