Dress Rehearsal (Talghin)

Director: Ashkan Kheilnejad

Scriptwriter: Jaber Ramezani

Director of Photography: Mostafa Qaheri

Overview

Yusef, a young theologian and prayer leader, lives with his wife, Zohreh, in a village. When villager Haj Hassan passes away, he entrusts Yusef with the sacred duty of performing his ablutions, burial, and whispering inculcation prayers. Despite Zohreh's concerns about his inexperience, Yusef insists on proceeding. To aid his practice, Zohreh lies down as if deceased, wrapped in a shroud. As Yusef whispers the prayers, he confronts not only the chilling reality of her stillness but also the profound weight of his responsibilities. In that moment, Zohreh faces her own fears and doubts, grappling with the unsettling truth about life, death, and vulnerability.

Director’s Note

What breathes life into mise-en-scène?
This question shaped my approach to visualizing the narrative. With most of my experience rooted in theater, adapting to cinematic mise-en-scène led me to bridge my understanding of theatrical principles with film concepts such as découpage and montage. Painting served as this bridge, helping me think about composition, select angles, and organize visual elements effectively within the flow of time – essential to cinematic montage.
Inspired by church paintings, I sought to create my own visuals that resonate with their aesthetics, rather than directly replicating iconic Renaissance works. The result is a film that converges theater, cinema, and painting, blending elements to evoke emotions that invite the audience to contemplate the profound interplay of life and death.

Awards

Cast

Production