Alan Mattli’s review published on Letterboxd:
ZFF 2022 #39
Of all the viewing experiences this could have reminded me of, imagine my surprise when it turned out to be Uncut Gems.
Terrific pared-down social drama that really lets you feel the weight of every single decision the main character has to make, and how virtually every potential move would only serve to tighten the noose further, cause the full weight of Iranian law and social expectation to crash down onto Fereshteh. While that means the film can veer towards feeling like a bit of a screenwriting exercise at times, Asgari's matter-of-fact direction and Sadaf Asgari's excellent lead performance keep things grounded and believable throughout.