The critically acclaimed short film, Exam is a gripping story that follows a young Iranian woman, who is coerced into delivering a “package” right before her important final exam. It is a simplistic thriller that pulls the audience in from start to finish. The young lady, convincingly played by Sadaf Asgari, is a hard-working self-driven student, who’s shackled to her father’s drug dealing. As her schooling takes a backseat to her position as a mule, she is forced into an intense dilemma, when the buyer is nowhere to be found, and she must bring the drugs to her exam. While taking a final exam is intense enough, there is a surprise bag check, right after the exams are collected.
Directed by Sonia K. Hadad, Exam quickly becomes a heart-pounding thriller. Each moment slowly escalates into intense moments of anxiousness. While the cinematography adds a captivating backdrop to the story, Exam shines in its ability to force its viewer to relive those anxious moments in our lives that had life-changing effects. Hadad is an Iranian writer and director who studied film at Emerson College in Boston. However, she was born in Tehran and was primarily educated in her native country. A great storyteller, Haddad weaves the tale in such a way that while we are instantly aware of the differences in Iranian culture, we are equally drawn into the similarities that exist between us. Exam is a “must-see” piece of cinema that will surely have you questioning your choices in life.
Movie Rating: 3 stars.
Movie Rating Guide
1 Star = Unwatchable
2 Stars = Cannot Recommend
3 Stars = Great for the Fans
4 Stars = A Solid Movie
5 Stars = Must Own (DVD/Stream Download)
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