The Circle

"Panahi squeezes power into every scene."

BBC FILM

"The world it shows is both mysterious and full of menace—yet as real as the world outside the theater."

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

"Restrained yet powerful, devastating in its emotional effects."

THE LA TIMES

"A memorable and devastating indictment of the oppression facing many women in Iran."

WASHINGTON POST

"Devastatingly effective."

THE LA DAILY NEWS

"In its brisk way, it’s a devastating piece of work, and very brave too."

THE WASHINGTON POST

"Alarmingly deft at exposing political and religious extremism for what it is."

JAM MOVIES

"Profoundly dangerous to the status quo in Iran because it asks us to identify with the plight of women who have done nothing wrong except to be female."

CHICAGO SUN TIMES

"An extraordinary film from a born filmmaker."

NEW TIMES

"A raw, riveting film that pulls you up short."

ROLLING STONE

"A touching, intimate portrayal of how women cope in this closed society."

FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

"Remarkable."

THE BOSTON GLOBE

"Circles the heart of noisy, modern Tehran with an informal, documentary-like freedom that is thrilling in its naturalism."

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

"One of the deepest impressions The Circle leaves is of the terrifying but also in its way thrilling complexity of experience."

THE NEW YORK TIMES

"One of the most courageous, hard-hitting films I’ve seen in a long time."

FILM.COM

"A dark, sustained, and wrenching film."

VILLAGE VOICE