Writer and director Elham Ehsas has brought together the impact of suppression, the innocence of compliance and the emotional impact on everyday good people with a subtlety that surpasses all boundaries. A film that is truly understated and deserves to be elevated and recognised for its content; brutal and myopic-minded regimes ruining the lives of everyday people for no reason.

The script is a masterclass in writing, the conversation with a male shopkeeper and female shopper is heart-warmingly touching, innocent in its content and so apt.

A scene that I found overwhelming was when the female shopper viewed herself in the mirror in a partly lifted full body covering, the forming of a tear slowly moving down and the expression of despair and hopelessness and a look that said it all ‘I am a good person, I have done nothing wrong.’

The cinematography envelopes a strange radiancy that captures it all through the colours and subdued lighting, showing even the darkest of areas in an artistic brilliance.

Costume designs by Jessica Holme and hair and make-up by Amelia Paul rightly deserve a mention; the father dressed in the traditional shalwar kameez, waistcoat, prayer cap and well-groomed is an epitome of a good Muslim; the son of a music lover who plays the rebab has un-kept hair a beard that is sort of groomed and the female shopkeeper a full-length view of her is not shown however her head is covered and minimal make-up complements the message of the film.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film, it has been shortlisted for the Oscars and most definitely deserves that gold statuette.