JUST 6.5

Police officer Samad Majidi and his overworked team are hunting down mysterious drug dealer Naser Khakzad, who appears to be the kingpin of the drug trade in the neighbourhood. But none of the arrested small-time drug dealers or users have ever seen him. In the meantime, Samad is under pressure because he wants a shot at a promotion, but concurrently there is a case of corruption led against him. When they finally get to Naser, a death-penalty suit follows.

The film is a mix of a political thriller, intense action and raw drama. Director Rustayi surprises us again and again with his heated dialogue and spirited action scenes. But the characters also are not just good or bad guys. The film reminds us of crime films by Martin Scorsese. The energetic cinematography reminds us of classic drug thriller The French Connection in which we saw antiheroes. We also think of Michael Mann, with the central cat-and-mouse-game between a detective and a criminal in the midst of moral grey areas. This film is a true feat of strength in pulling us deeper into the war on drugs in Iran. The title Just 6.5 refers to the 6.5 million drug addicts in the country, out of a total of 85 million inhabitants.