Manuscripts Don’t Burn

Director Mohammad Rasoulof has suffered bounty of censorship under Iran’s authorities, so his daring political thriller – shot secretly by an uncredited cast and crew – comes with added authenticity. The cold, claustrophobic report revolves around a cash-strapped assassin caught up in disbanding a group of writers before they publish an explosive chronicle.

The initially cryptic plotting and low-key realism are familiar from Iranian dramas; what’s striking is how Rasoulof shifts into such a lucid, gut-punching tale of persecution. The film’s flaws are forgivable; its very existence should be applauded.