Synopsis
The story follows a Tehran taxi driver named Hashem who finds an abandoned baby in the backseat of his cab one night. Unsure of what to do, he takes the baby to his girlfriend, Taji, hoping she might help him figure out the next steps. Together, they navigate the bureaucratic and societal challenges of trying to find a safe place for the child. As Hashem and Taji search for the baby’s mother or a suitable home, they encounter various characters and institutions that reflect the complexities and moral ambiguities of Iranian society. The film explores themes of responsibility, compassion, and the social obligations of individuals within a community. Through its narrative, “Brick and Mirror” critiques the inefficiencies and moral failures of contemporary urban life.
Director
Ebrahim Golestan is a pioneering Iranian filmmaker, writer, and intellectual born in 1922 in Shiraz, Iran. He is known for his significant contributions to Iranian cinema, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, where he blended documentary and narrative styles in works like The Brick and the Mirror and A Fire. Golestan was also a close associate of the poet Forough Farrokhzad, directing her in the acclaimed documentary The House is Black. In addition to his film work, Golestan has authored several books and essays, contributing to both Persian literature and the cultural discourse of his time.