Mahsa Karampour left Iran for France. Her brother, Siavash, stayed and became an underground punk-rocker, later exiled to New York. Years on, Mahsa travels to reconnect – through backgammon, road trips and a very personal voiceover in Persian – in a film as much about her as him.
Into the Jaws of the Ogre
Into the Jaws of the Ogre
Australian Premiere.
Director
Mahsa Karampour
Runtime
87 Minutes
Country
France
Classification
Unclassified 18+
Documentarian Mahsa Karampour left Iran for France. Her younger brother, Siavash, stayed in Tehran and became a punk-rocker, playing on the rooftops and holding secret gigs in his own form of rock ‘n’ roll resistance. Years after Siavash is exiled to New York, and after drifting apart, Mahsa seeks to reconnect with her sibling through his imaginary characters, backgammon, road-tripping American highways and documenting her feelings for him in Persian via monologue from the other side of the camera. Deeply introspective and thoughtful, Into the Jaws of the Ogre is not just a portrait of the many sides of Siavash and the tragic event that colours his existence in New York City but an autobiographical detailing of Mahsa’s own hopes and regrets. “Through our confrontation, a larger experience emerges: that of a diaspora moving between two shores, seeking ways to reinvent itself without losing itself.” Mahsa Karampour
“Beautifully poetic and deeply insightful.”
ICS Film
“Quiet and confident, this portrait of siblings and their disparate life choices … [makes] for a fascinating dive into subjects not often seen on screen.”
POV Magazine
Cannes
Film Credits
Director
Mahsa Karampour
Year
2026
Country
France
Language
Persian
Subtitles
English
Type
Feature Documentary
Program Strand
World Documentary
Producer
Mathilde Raczymow
Cinematographer
Cédric Dupire & Mahsa Karampour
Editor
Saskia Berthod
Genre
Biographical, BIPOC, Documentary & Music
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