CIFF 2014: Red Rose Review

The day after the 2009 Iranian presidential election ignites a chaotic protest in the streets of Tehran, a group of demonstrators flee the streets and burst into Ali’s (Vassilis Koukalani) high-rise apartment. As the group leaves, Sara (Mina Kavani), a young, passionate opponent of the Iranian government who uses Twitter to communicate with the local revolutionary group called the Green Wave, sticks behind and begins an intense, erotic relationship with 50-year-old Ali.

“Red Rose” is a monolocation feature opened up through clever use of archival footage from the actual 2009 protests that resulted in more than 40 casualties and thousands of arrests. The slow uncovering of Sara and Ali’s backgrounds carries the film through most of its 90 minutes, but this cramped feature set in a single apartment could ultimately do with a bit of fresh air.

5 out of 10 points