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Iran's $40 million movie, is anyone watching it?

The most costly film in the history of Iran's cinema has been on the silver screen for just over a month, but what do Iranian viewers think of it?
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TEHRAN, Iran — It has now been just over a month since renowned Iranian film director Majid Majidi’s “Muhammad: The Messenger of God” first showed in cinemas across Iran. Yet despite the support of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Principlist media, it appears that film critics and movie-goers alike aren’t too happy with Majidi’s latest production. Despite high sales, the film is being viewed as a box-office failure considering its huge budget.

On a recent Thursday evening — the equivalent of Friday night in Western capitals, as Iran follows the Islamic calendar — a crowd had gathered at Tehran’s glitzy Mellat Cinema Complex, located alongside Niayesh Highway. A diverse crowd was anxiously waiting to see the film about the prophet of Islam at 9 p.m. In line were young women and men who were sporting the latest fashions — wearing loosely draped scarves while smoking cigarettes — and young clerical students were holding rosary beads while serenely chatting among themselves.

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