This sophisticated urban drama is a journey through the complex relationships of contemporary urbanites in Tehran, set against the backdrop of the chaotic firework celebrations of the coming Iranian New Year. Rouhi, a young freelance maid who will be married in two days, is sent by her agency to the middle class home of a husband and wife in the throes of a marital meltdown. Mojdeh, a wife on the verge of a nervous breakdown, is convinced her husband is cheating on her with the next door neighbor. She employs Rouhi as a spy, thrusting her into the center of the maelstrom. Farhadi's film unapologetically, and without judgment, delves into the messy lives of contemporary Iranians to reveal the complicated relationships of its three-dimensional characters, beautifully realized by these seasoned actors. Exploring the social hierarchies of Iranian society, he gives us a rare glimpse into the private lives of a people often misunderstood by the outside world. The screenplay (co-written by Mani Haghighi, director of Men at Work, TFF 2006; and Abadan, TFF 2004) reaches deep into the psyche of its characters, creating heartbreakingly explosive scenes, while Farhadi's direction crafts a modern family drama-in which there are no easy answers-that has universal resonance. Fireworks Wednesday reaches beyond the political rhetoric of today's headlines to show us a society of people who must contend with problems not unlike our own. Winner, Gold Hugo, Chicago Film Festival.

Asghar Farhadi