Iranian filmmaker Saeed Roustaee makes his return to Cannes with Woman and Child (Zan va bache in the original). The film is competing in the official selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. This social drama, starring Parinaz Izadyar and Payman Maadi, marks a new chapter in the director's career following Tehran Sojourn and Leila and Her Brothers. The movie is scheduled for release in French theaters on February 25, 2026, according to its distributor.
Among the films competing for the prestigious Palme d’Or, Woman and Child is part of an official selection that was finalized late by the Cannes organizers. It joins screenings in the Critics' Week, the Director’s Fortnight, and the ACID program.
Mahnaz, a 45-year-old nurse, is raising her children alone amid challenging social circumstances. As she prepares to marry Hamid, her son Aliyar is expelled from school, reigniting underlying family and institutional tensions. Shortly afterward, a tragic accident upends the delicate stability of their home, prompting Mahnaz to embark on a quest for justice with far-reaching implications.
Through this narrative focused on a female protagonist facing social pressure and the brutality of administrative machinery, the film builds a steadily mounting sense of tension while remaining deeply rooted in her personal perspective. The story delves into the moral and emotional toll of a solitary struggle against seemingly unchangeable systems.
Produced amidst a sensitive political backdrop, Woman and Child continues to explore the themes that are central to Saeed Roustaee’s work, themes already evident in Leila and Her Brothers. That film, awarded at Cannes in 2022 with the FIPRESCI Prize and the Citizenship Award, marked a significant milestone. Following its success, the director faced a suspended prison sentence and a temporary ban on filmmaking in Iran for “propaganda against the system.” Nevertheless, the selection of this new feature for official competition in 2025 reaffirms his vital role in contemporary Iranian cinema.
The filming brings together several of the director’s regular collaborators, including Payman Maadi, who previously starred in The Tehran Rule. Parinaz Izadyar plays Mahnaz, a central role that shapes a restrained, subtle direction focused on everyday gestures and the pacing of scenes. The film moves at a controlled tempo with a realistic touch, aiming to resonate with audiences who appreciate socially charged dramas and narratives rooted in a precise observation of human relationships.
Woman and Child
Film | 2026
Release in theaters: February 25, 2026
Drama | Runtime: 2h11
Directed by Saeed Roustaee | Starring Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi, Sinan Mohebi
Original title: Zan va bache
Country: Iran
Premiering in Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, Woman and Child continues the tradition of socially conscious cinema, shedding light on social and familial divisions, while reaffirming Saeed Roustaee's dedication to a gritty, realist approach.
To extend your in-theater experience, check out the February movie releases, discover the must-see films of the moment, and explore our highlighted dramas of the year.
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