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The Apple

Original title: Sib
  • 19981998
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
78,454
11,782
The Apple (1998)
Drama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
78,454
11,782
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Samira Makhmalbaf
    • Writers
      • Mohsen Makhmalbaf
      • Samira Makhmalbaf
    • Stars
      • Massoumeh Naderi
      • Zahra Naderi
      • Ghorban Ali Naderi
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Samira Makhmalbaf
    • Writers
      • Mohsen Makhmalbaf
      • Samira Makhmalbaf
    • Stars
      • Massoumeh Naderi
      • Zahra Naderi
      • Ghorban Ali Naderi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 18User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 7 nominations

    Photos

    Massoumeh Naderi and Zahra Naderi in The Apple (1998)
    Massoumeh Naderi and Zahra Naderi in The Apple (1998)
    The Apple (1998)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Massoumeh Naderi
    • Massoumeh
    Zahra Naderi
    • Zahra
    Ghorban Ali Naderi
    • Father
    Azizeh Mohamadi
    • Azizeh
    Zahra Saghrisaz
    • Director
      • Samira Makhmalbaf
    • Writers
      • Mohsen Makhmalbaf
      • Samira Makhmalbaf
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Samira Makhmalbaf was able to shoot this film with film stock left over from her father's film The Silence (1998).
    • Connections
      Featured in Cinema Iran (2005)

    User reviews18

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Moving debut by 17 year old Samira Makhmalbaf
    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.
    helpful•2
    0
    • Andy-296
    • Apr 17, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 19, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Iran
      • France
      • Netherlands
    • Language
      • Persian
    • Also known as
      • Elma
    • Filming locations
      • Iran
    • Production companies
      • Hubert Bals Fund
      • MK2 Productions
      • Makhmalbaf Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $15,207
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $15,207
      • Feb 21, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $15,207
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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