The Neighbours (2021)
The Neighbours (2021)
In a quiet village in northern Iran, a local cleric develops a gentle and unexpected bond with stray dogs. In a society where dogs are often seen as religiously impure, his quiet decision to care for them gradually turns into a subtle act of resistance. The Neighbours follows his journey with calm and compassion, capturing daily interactions, inner reflections, and the tension between faith and affection.
The film explores how a deeply religious man confronts the social and spiritual consequences of doing what he feels is right. With poetic images and an observational approach, the documentary opens a broader conversation about human-animal relationships, personal belief, and the struggle between tradition and empathy.
The Neighbours is both intimate and political, rooted in lived experience but open to universal questions about coexistence and moral courage.
Iran Documentary Television Festival
Tehran, Iran
December 21, 2020
Audience Award – Best Semi-long Documentary
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
Thessaloniki, Greece
June 26, 2021
Official Selection – Open Horizons Section
Trailer
Director
- Cinematographer, Director
Khalil Rashnavi, born in 1982 in Andimeshk, Iran, began his artistic career in 2004 as a short story writer. He received multiple awards from major Iranian literary festivals, including the Sadegh Hedayat Literary Festival, Aftab Shiraz, Doroud, and Isfahan. His deep experience in storytelling later became a strong foundation for his transition into documentary filmmaking.
He started his cinematic journey in 2011 by completing an intensive filmmaking course at Whistling Woods International University in Mumbai. In 2013, he also graduated from an international program at SAE Institute Bangkok, further developing his cinematic skills.
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Film Specifications
Credits:
- Director: Khalil Rashnavi
- Writer: Khalil Rashnavi
- Producer: Mojde Naghdi
- Key Cast: Komeil Nezafati
- Director Advisor: Mahmoud Rahmani
- Edit Advisor: Hakimeh Zafari
- Sound Record: Khalil Rashnavi
- Cinematography: Khalil Rashnavi
- Sound Design: Gisoo Azadravesh
Technical:
- Project Type: Documentary
- Genres: Human and Animals
- Runtime: 42 minutes 15 seconds
- Completion Date: Dec 13, 2021
- Country of Filming: Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Language: Persian (with English subtitle)
- Shooting Format: Full HD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Film Color: Color
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