Mehran Modiri, a widely appreciated Iranian TV satirist, ventures into the thriller genre with his second film, "6 A.M." While the film has its fair share of shortcomings, it offers a surprisingly stern scrutiny of Iran's society, showcasing the state's invasive intervention into the private lives of its citizens.
In the movie, philosophy student, Sara (played by Samira Hassanpour), prepares to embark on a 6 a.m. flight to Toronto for her doctoral studies. Her farewell evening takes a tragic turn when she succumbs to peer pressure and attends a gathering with her friends. The event eventually invites the unanticipated intervention of the police, resulting in Sara's concealment and a string of catastrophic events.
The evening's gathering, taking place in a Western-style apartment with unusual art, morphs from a casual farewell party into a chaotic scene. Here, Fariba (Mona Farjad) and Peyman (Mansour Nasiri), the hosts, coerce Sara to stay for musical performances despite her requirement to head to the airport.
Modiri, apart from his directorial and writing duties, plays a high-ranking hostage negotiator, offering unique techniques in his narrative. He refrains from using a running countdown to build tension, opting instead for cutting between scenes to induce feelings of finality and dread. He embellishes his script with ample aural and visual signs, although his overuse of terms such as 'last' and 'final' in the dialogues can feel excessive at times.
Despite the film's attempt to portray everyday Iranian life critically, some characters lack depth. Sara's brother, Siavash (played by Mehrdad Sedighian), appears excessively exaggerated in his supportive role. Confounding elements also include some peculiar choices in the film's art direction.
Despite it initially launching in Iran in the summer, "6 A.M." has not garnered much attention. With a country grappling with societal issues, and numerous less qualified writer-directors imitating Asghar Farhadi's style, it's unsurprising that comedies often perform better among the Iranian audience.