That first feature, released around 1970, immediately established Taghvai as part of Iran’s emerging cinematic movement known as the New Wave. Alongside filmmakers such as Dariush Mehrjui, Bahram Beizai, and Masoud Kimiai, he sought to redefine Iranian cinema as an art form capable of philosophical depth and emotional honesty. The film explored alienation, repression, and the quiet despair beneath the surface of domestic life. Although it faced censorship and was banned for several years, it became a landmark in Iranian film history once released.
