Russia Suspends Release of Acclaimed Iranian Film on Prostitution
A distributor announced on Tuesday that Russian authorities have temporarily halted the release of a highly regarded film that revolves around a serial killer targeting sex workers in Iran.
The movie, titled "Holy Spider," is directed by Ali Abbasi, a Danish-Iranian filmmaker. It draws inspiration from a true story concerning a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war who committed heinous crimes by murdering 16 sex workers in Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city and an important Shiite Islamic shrine city.
This decision comes at a time when Russia and Iran are attempting to strengthen their ties, especially in light of Moscow's increasing isolation in the West due to its actions in Ukraine. Since President Vladimir Putin deployed troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has undergone a noticeable shift toward conservatism.
The film initially premiered in Russia on May 11 and enjoyed a brief run in theaters. However, less than a week later, the Culture Ministry revoked its distribution license. Anastasiya Kruglyakova, a representative from Exponenta Film, confirmed this unfortunate development, stating, "Regrettably, it is true."
The ministry cited the film's inclusion of prohibited information, as outlined by Russian legislation, as the reason for its cancellation. Kruglyakova did not provide further specifics, and the Culture Ministry did not offer an immediate response.
Ali Abbasi encountered difficulties when attempting to shoot the film in Iran, leading to its eventual production in Jordan. "Holy Spider" gained recognition when Zar Amir Ebrahimi won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival last year for her portrayal of a journalist investigating the series of murders.
Iran expressed its disapproval to France following the film's selection at the festival, condemning the decision as "wrong and entirely political."
