News Center — Iran, especially in recent years, has been experiencing economic deterioration. In parallel, the state has escalated its pressures and resorted to brutally suppressing social uprisings. With the outbreak of conflict in the region, millions of people in Iran have found themselves in an even darker and more stagnant reality, while violence against women manifests in various fields.

Despite all the challenges in Iran, women have shown their strength through the Jin, Jiyan, Azadî uprising. The film "Holy Spider," produced in 2022, is a work that calls for confronting what is happening in Iran.

The crimes and the confrontation

The film "Kutsal Örümcek" (Holy Spider) is one of the most controversial works in Iranian cinema in recent years, receiving wide international attention. Directed by Ali Abbasi, the film is based on real events and follows the story of a serial killer who targeted women in the city of Mashhad, taking the viewer on a shocking social confrontation.

The work is based on the story of Saeed Hanaei, who killed at least 16 women between 2000 and 2001. The film follows a journalist's investigation into these crimes. By addressing the murders of women, the justice system, and moral contradictions, the film offers a sharp critique of inequality and societal violence in Iran.

Cannes award

The film stars Zahra Amir Ebrahimi and Mehdi Bajestani. It premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where Zahra won the Best Actress award, drawing attention to the work.

However, the film sparked controversy not only artistically but also politically. Iran's then-Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance criticized it, announcing that those who supported its production inside Iran would be punished. The Iranian Cinema Organization also criticized the film, considering that it "insults national and religious values," and condemned the festival.

Director Ali Abbasi said in one of his statements: "I felt that the issue was not just about Saeed, but that its essence lies in the hatred of women." He added that he applied to film the movie at the actual crime scene in Iran, believing that shooting in Mashhad would be more accurate, but he received no response for a year, which led him to film in Jordan.

Before the film's screening at the Cannes Festival, feminist movement protests drew attention. Members of the "Les Colleuses" group organized a demonstration in France, carrying signs with the names of murdered women, linking the film's subject to real-world violence.

"Holy Spider" is not limited to telling a crime story; it stands out as a powerful cinematic work that raises profound questions about systematic violence against women and the social structure that supports it.