Screening Saturday, January 13 at 7:00pm

About the Film

Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival where it premiered in competition, Leila’s Brothers is a sweeping family drama that cuts to the heart of Iranian’s patriarchal society.

At 40 years old, Leila has spent her whole life taking care of her parents and her four brothers. The family argues constantly and is crushed by debts, in a country caught in the grip of international economic sanctions. As her brothers are trying to make ends meet, Leila formulates a plan: to start a family business that would save them from poverty.

While they are in desperate need of financial support, Leila finds out that their father Esmail has secretly been hiding a family heirloom. He had been saving it as an offering to become the new Patriarch of the clan, the highest honor in the Persian tradition.

This revelation will bring chaos to the already fragile family dynamics. As the father’s health deteriorates, the actions of each family member will gradually lead the family one step closer to implosion.

Presented in partnership with the Twin Cities Iranian Culture Collective.