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The Apple (1998)

Sib (original title)
| Drama | 19 February 1999 (USA)
The Apple Poster
After twelve years of imprisonment by their own parents, two sisters are finally released by social workers to face the outside world for the first time.

Director:

Samira Makhmalbaf

Writers:

Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Samira Makhmalbaf (as Samireh Makhmalbaf)

Stars:

Massoumeh Naderi, Zahra Naderi, Ghorban Ali Naderi | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
7 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview:
Massoumeh Naderi Massoumeh Naderi ... Massoumeh
Zahra Naderi Zahra Naderi ... Zahra
Ghorban Ali Naderi Ghorban Ali Naderi ... Father
Azizeh Mohamadi Azizeh Mohamadi ... Azizeh
Zahra Saghrisaz Zahra Saghrisaz
See full cast »
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Storyline

After twelve years of imprisonment by their own parents, two sisters are finally released by social workers to face the outside world for the first time.

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

family drama | docudrama | contemporary | feminist film | real twins playing twins | See All (55) »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

Iran | France

Language:

Persian

Release Date:

19 February 1999 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Apple See more »

Filming Locations:

Iran
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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,207, 21 February 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$116,758, 27 June 1999
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hubert Bals Fund,MK2 Productions,Makhmalbaf Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Color:

Color
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Samira Makhmalbaf was able to shoot this film with film stock left over from her father's film _Sokhout (1998)_. See more »

Connections

References Poto and Cabengo (1980) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Moving debut by 17 year old Samira Makhmalbaf
17 April 2014 | by Andres Salama – See all my reviews

Based on a true story and starring the very same people involved in it, this movie (by first time director Samira Makhmalbaf) tells the story of Zahra and Massoumef, twelve year old twins living on a very humble neighborhood in Tehran. Virtually imprisoned in their own home by their impoverished, ignorant, fundamentalist father and blind mother, they were freed by Iran social services after neighbors complained that the children had not bathed and could not speak. Makhmalbaf shows the twins attempting to function beyond their parents' wall after the social workers have intervened. They lack social skills to the extent of being unaware that they have to pay for food. Made when she was just 17 years old (probably with some help from her father, the acclaimed Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf) this film stands very well in the Iranian tradition of social realist, humanist cinema that came out beginning in the mid 1980s. It's so moving, it will be hard for you not to cry while watching it.
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