Circumstance (2011)

Director:

Maryam Keshavarz

Writer:

Maryam Keshavarz (written by)

Release Date:

6 October 2011 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager's growing sexual rebellion and her brother's dangerous obsession. |

Plot Keywords:

Teenager | Iranian | Bare Breasts | Lesbian | Veil

Awards:

7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Nikohl Boosheri	...	Atafeh Hakimi
Sarah Kazemy	...	Shireen Arshadi
Reza Sixo Safai	...	Mehran Hakimi
Soheil Parsa	...	Firouz Hakimi
Nasrin Pakkho	...	Azar Hakimi
Amir Barghashi	...	Mohammed Mehdi
Fariborz Daftari	...	Shireen's Uncle
Keon Mohajeri	...	Joey
Sina Amedson	...	Hossein
Amir Hossein Soleimani	...	Payam (as Amir Soleimani)
Siro Fazlian	...	Shireen's Grandmother
Elie Njeim	...	Club Drug Dealer
Joseph Fadel	...	Taxi Merci Driver
Milad Hadchiti	...	Yusef
Ghina Daou	...	Party Girl
Hadi Tabbal	...	Molesting Taxi Driver (as Hady Tabbal)
Rita El-Achkar	...	Maid
Ele Khater	...	Young Addict
Amanda Nawfal	...	Fatima
Paul Bweiz	...	Good Looking Boy
Layale Harfouche	...	Club Model
Nay Harfouche	...	Club Model
Neila Salameh	...	Club Model

Directed by
Maryam Keshavarz

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Maryam Keshavarz		written by

Produced by
Maryam Azadi	....	associate producer
Karin Chien	....	producer
Antonin Dedet	....	co-producer
Nathan C. Dee	....	co-executive producer
Derek T. Fears	....	co-executive producer
Hossein Keshavarz	....	associate producer
Maryam Keshavarz	....	producer
Melissa M. Lee	....	producer (as Melissa Lee)
Carla Roley	....	associate producer
Pierre Sarraf	....	line producer
Audrey Saunders	....	co-executive producer
Christina Won	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gingger Shankar

Cinematography by
Brian Rigney Hubbard		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andrea Chignoli

Casting by
Lara Chekerdjian		(as Lara Chekedjian)

Production Design by
Natacha Kalfayan

Costume Design by
Lamia Choucair

Makeup Department
Stéphanie Asnarez	....	key makeup artist
Kasia Bohos	....	assistant makeup artist: reshoot unit
Joanna Kamar	....	makeup assistant
Therese Moukarzel	....	key hair stylist
Michael Peter	....	additional hair stylist
Anna Piskoulian	....	key hair stylist: reshoot unit
Anna Piskoulian	....	key makeup artist: reshoot unit

Production Management
Jimmy Dib	....	assistant unit production manager
Abla Khoury	....	unit production manager
Bassam Madi	....	unit manager
Amanda Nawfal	....	unit manager
Joseph Rusin	....	unit production manager: reshoot unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nagham Abboud	....	third assistant director
Kit Bland	....	first assistant director
Reine Razzouk	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jessica Abi Nassif	....	assistant art director (as Jessica Abinassif)
Scott Enge	....	production designer: reshoot unit
Alicia Peterson	....	set dresser: reshoot unit
Christina Weston	....	art director: reshoot unit

Sound Department
Kareen Basha	....	boom operator (as Kareen Bacha)
John Bires	....	additional audio
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital assistant
Paul André Fonarev	....	sound mixer: reshoot unit (as Paul Fonarev)
Michael Gassert	....	sound mixer
Darlene Gorzela	....	additional audio
Arda Gulesserian	....	additional audio
Daniel R. Kerr	....	additional audio (as Dan Kerr)
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Rosenthal	....	additional audio
Kyle Seo	....	additional audio
Hermann Thumann	....	sound effects editor (as Herman Thumann)
Rich Toenes	....	additional audio
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Mathew Waters	....	sound effects editor (as Matt Waters)
Mathew Waters	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Wright	....	dolby sound consultant
David Young	....	additional audio
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Chris Armstrong	....	director of animation and visual effects
Christopher Boyd	....	compositor: Academy of Art University
Sarah Jane Chin	....	visual effects production manager: Academy of Art University
Philip Fadlou	....	visual effects artist
Sean Gillane	....	visual effects video technician
Nathan Hackett	....	compositor: Academy of Art University
Micah Jordan	....	compositor: Academy of Art University
Doyoung Kim	....	compositor: Academy of Art University
Quan Li	....	compositor: Academy of Art University
Patrick Louie	....	compositor: Academy of Art University
Patrick Louie	....	visual effects supervisor: Academy of Art University
Jeremy A. Parrish	....	visual effects technical assistant
Galina Rozina	....	visual effects lab manager
Ronald Tacsion	....	compositor: Academy of Art University
Catherine Tate	....	senior visual effects supervisor: Academy of Art University
Catherine Tate	....	visual effects instructor: Academy of Art University
Cheryl Lynn Vanderbilt	....	visual effects production consultant
Jeong Won Jang	....	compositor: Academy of Art University
Stephanie Woo	....	lead compositor: Academy of Art University (as Stephanie G. Woo)
Weihung Yin	....	compositor: Academy of Art University

Stunts
Jad Eid	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Georges Abou Annei	....	grip
Toni Abou Haidar	....	grip
Johnny Abou Sleiman	....	grip
Joseph Abou Sleiman	....	grip
Yousseh Aho	....	grip
Elie Akl	....	camera assistant
Syha Araj	....	videographer
Team Bashet	....	key grip: reshoot unit
Safa Brahim	....	additional key grip
Samir Brahim	....	best boy electric
Majed Chaaban	....	camera assistant
Sara Elia	....	best boy grip: reshoot unit
Sarah Galley	....	second assistant camera: reshoot unit
Fernando Gayesky	....	first assistant camera
Cecilia Guerrero	....	first assistant camera: reshoot unit
Charbel Hadchiti	....	grip
Marzouk Helmy	....	grip
Rawad Hmaymass	....	key grip
Riad Howayek	....	grip
Toni Illo	....	grip
Hanna Issa	....	camera assistant
Mina Jamil	....	grip
Scott Johnson	....	second assistant camera: reshoot unit
Kinzi Khalaf	....	grip
Joseph Khamis	....	gaffer
Nader Kneiher	....	grip
Tony Mkere	....	steadicam operator
Tarek Moukaddem	....	still photographer
Joseph Nabhan	....	camera assistant
Rami Saad	....	camera assistant
Michel Saadeh	....	camera assistant
Kenneth Wales	....	gaffer: reshoot unit (as Ken Wales)
Marie Warde	....	second assistant camera
Vanessa Wolf	....	best boy electric: reshoot unit

Casting Department
Nagham Abboud	....	casting coordinator
Suha Araj	....	casting assistant
Mia Askerlund	....	casting assistant (as Mia Askerland)
Jason Knight	....	casting assistant
Mahsa Saloor	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rana Ali	....	assistant wardrobe manager
Jacqueline Castro	....	assistant wardrobe: reshoot unit
Danielle Gilbert	....	key wardrobe manager: reshoot unit
Nicole Weinert	....	assistant wardrobe: reshoot unit

Editorial Department
J. Cody Baker	....	digital intermediate assistant
Dane Bergerson	....	digital intermediate assistant
Salvatore Catanzaro	....	on-line editor
Mike Chiado	....	digital intermediate technologist
Christopher Clausing	....	drs artist
Michael Coronado	....	drs artist
Alden Delos Santos	....	telecine
David Feldman	....	digital intermediate director feature sales
Siggy Ferstl	....	digital intermediate colorist
Dan Goslee	....	digital intermediate assistant
Annie Johnson	....	digital intermediate producer
Thomas Kuo	....	digital intermediate scan operator
Chocez Peterson	....	digital intermediate feature operation manager
Sherry Price	....	drs artist
Tristan Rayos	....	digital intermediate assistant
Paul Sage	....	digital intermediate assistant
Heidi Scheuermann	....	editorial intern
Spencer Seibert	....	editorial intern
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	digital intermediate executive producer
Rachel Tejada	....	additional assistant editor
Vincent Tsu	....	assistant editor
Kristin Yawata	....	editorial intern

Music Department
Jas Ahluwalia	....	musician: tabla, percussion
Sussan Deyhim	....	musician: special guest vocalist
Shahzad Ismaily	....	musician: banjo
M.C. Rai	....	musician: vocalist
Bahman Sarram	....	musician: violin
Gingger Shankar	....	musician: vocals, double violin, piano
Janani Shankar	....	musician: vocals
Jake Snyder	....	musician: guitars
Stevie Snyder	....	musician: guitars
Mona T.	....	musician: drums, percussion
Chris Votek	....	musician: cello (as Christopher Votek)
Gingger Shankar	....	music editor (uncredited)
Gingger Shankar	....	music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ahmad Abkan	....	driver
Iskandar Antoun	....	driver
Elie Chalhoub	....	driver
Abdelrahman El Aley	....	driver
Rabih Ghyia	....	driver
Nabil Hachem	....	driver
Saad Hadchiti	....	driver
Jean Saad	....	driver

Other crew
Tara Aghdashloo	....	script translator
Heather Askew	....	script supervisor
Maryam Azadi	....	dialogue coach: Persian
Maryam Azadi	....	script translator
Maryam Azadi	....	story editor
Bassam Bokdashy	....	runner
Nicole Compas	....	production counsel: Gray Krauss Des Rochers
André Des Rochers	....	production counsel: Gray Krauss Des Rochers
Jimmy Dib	....	location manager
Pooria Fard	....	additional adr voice
Jeano Fata	....	assistant location manager
Nadine Haber	....	office assistant
Jowe Harfouche	....	location coordinator
Muhamed Kawas	....	choreographer
Bassam Madi	....	caterer
Jonathan Mastro	....	script consultant
Tony Mjaess	....	unit helper
Sarah Nasser	....	unit helper
Amanda Nawfal	....	caterer
Danny Pugh	....	end credits
Danny Pugh	....	production assistant: reshoot unit
Carole Sawma	....	production assistant
Ali Seblini	....	unit helper
Spencer Seibert	....	production assistant: reshoot unit
Stephan Sesquin	....	script translator
Hind Shoufani	....	script translator
Jana Wehbe	....	production coordinator
Chino Wong	....	titles designer
Marijana Wotton	....	location scout: reshoot unit
Kristin Yawata	....	english subtitles

Thanks
Atom Egoyan	....	very special thanks
Robert Redford	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Marakesh Films
• A Space Between
• Bago Pictures
• The Menagerie (as Menagerie Productions)
• Neon Productions

Distributors

• Ad Vitam Distribution (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Edition Salzgeber (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Participant Media (2011) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Roadside Attractions (2011) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Homescreen (2012) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Peccadillo Pictures (2012) (UK) (all media)
• Vendetta Films (2011) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Academy of Art University (AAU) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Cinereach  funding
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• Creative Clearance  copyright and title search
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Gamma Engineering  camera: grip and lighting
• Gray Krauss Des Rochers  legal services
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• New York University  insurance
• Soundelux  post-production sound services
• Todd-AO Studios  sound re-recording facilities (as Todd AO)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug use

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

France | USA | Iran

Language:

Persian | English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA (2011) | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Beirut, Lebanon

Company:

Marakesh Films

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Most actors and actresses in the movie have thick accents and can't speak Persian fluently.

What a lyrical n beautiful film.....n this is not the Iran of Kiarostami, Majid Majidi or Makhmalbaf !!!

just could not believe that this is a film made by a first time filmmaker......it seemed more like someone who knew his craft of making film rather well....a director well into his 3rd film.....keeping aside the fact its a little confusing in its love & sex angles......which is just the icing on this delicious cake that lies within this film.....the icing being of course Sarah Kazamey as Shireen....she is defiantly going to be the next Monica Bellucci mark my words !!!But what stood out in the film for me was the underground Party scene of Iran and the appropriate use of music to describe it......i guess most people in the west cannot fathom people in eastern( i am from India) or middle eastern countries having a cool time.....well they do n they know how to given the CirCumstance !!!!!!!!!!!!!! and i read the reviews of some people above dishing the film....i mean if you want a film about Iran that is a documentary well then please turn on your respective News Channels or better still plz revisit n read the the summary above.....This film is a Lyrical Drama poetically shot....hats of to the Cinematographer/ DP( lots of cool wong kar wai style moments original in their own unique way).....superb acting by everyone i loved the actor who played Atafeh's father splendid father daughter understanding of a relationship depicted in this film in such a mature n modern way seldom seen in countries where women are meant to be locked up....being an aspiring filmmaker i loved this film by a first time director 5 stars for a fabulous debut.....n yeah for the guys ditching the film take a closer look guys.....n see the nominations & awards and this is her first film !!!