The Circle

The Circle is a 2000 Iranian drama film that criticizes the treatment of women in Iran, following various women from different backgrounds and ages as they navigate oppressive societal expectations and demands. The film begins in a maternity ward where a woman learns her newborn daughter will be a girl, sparking worry about family repercussions. As the three main characters - Nargess (Nargess Mamizadeh), Arezou (Maryiam Palvin Almani), and Mojgan (Mojgan Faramarzi) - try to escape their circumstances, they face numerous challenges, including police arrests and societal norms that restrict their freedom.