Pooyan Aghababaei

Pooyan Aghababaei’s filmography is anything but boring—honestly, the guy’s got a knack for digging into the shadows most people would rather tiptoe around. “Mysteries of the Lake” (2018) drops you right into this dreamy-unsettling world, where every ripple on the water feels like it’s hiding something you’re not supposed to see. Nothing is ever simple; the plot weaves through secrets, old wounds, and those tiny details that make you question what’s real and what’s been twisted by memory. Move to “Last Lullaby in Tehran” (2021), and suddenly you’re smack in the heart of a city pulsing with tension. The film doesn’t just flirt with danger—it wraps you up in it. You’re following characters who are stuck between hope and fear, trying not to lose themselves as the city around them changes by the minute. There’s a rawness to it, like everyone’s carrying baggage they can’t quite put down. And then there’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (2024). This one’s a whole different beast. Aghababaei doesn’t mess around with surface-level drama; instead, he digs deep into family, faith, and that gnawing feeling of wanting to break free. There’s symbolism all over the place, but it never feels forced or flashy. By the end, you’re left rattled in the best way, wondering how much you actually know about the people closest to you—or yourself, for that matter. If you’re after movies that leave a mark, he’s your guy.