An Eye for An Eye Review – Disheartening, A Up Close Look of the Iranian Justice System
- Details
- Category: Haute This Issue
- Published on Thursday, 27 August 2026 15:43
- Written by Janet Walker
An Eye for An Eye, from Jolt Films, presents, a challenging view of the judicial system in Iran, as we follow Tahereh, as she, after 14 years in prison, now must pay the mandatory restitution or face execution.
The film opens with a passage from the Koran, setting the tone and premise of the film. For murder, the family of the victim is allowed to forgive, demand payment, or seek an eye for an eye, the execution of the murderer.
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In true crime style, we are taken to the scene of the crime and told, by the unsuspecting tenant, how one day his mother came to his apartment and asked him about what looked like a hole in the floor, as the man had simply placed carpet over it and left it alone. He removed the carpet and simply pressed on the weakening cement when as he explained, five toes popped up out of the floor.
This is when we meet Tahereh, who factually explains she killed her husband. During this initial interview, we also understand she was the victim of domestic violence, and her former husband was a drug addict. Like most domestic violence victims, the abuse began slowly, and escalated, and after years of attempting to seek assistance, she was dismissed. She explains, "She killed him once, but over the years he killed her thousands of times."
With three children, two daughters and a son, her fear, like the fear of every mother, is that he would soon begin to abuse the children as well. One night, she explains, she took the scarf that women are forced to wear, and wrapped it around his neck, and strangled him. Then, it was over. She explains that she and the girls dug up the floor and buried him. Her hell, or so she thought, was over.
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The film also brings in the Iranian CID, who also presents the facts, and they explain the only issue they had with Tahereh's confession was the cement floor, how could she dig up a floor, and cover it back. Even though they suspected she had help, she insisted she acted alone.
Throughout the film, we also meet her husband's family, who has the right under Islamic law to set the price of the restitution. It isn't mandated by law. So, initially they set the restitution at 800m Iranian Rial. And Tahereh was given three months to raise the money, and worse, after each effort to lower the payment, the family, as Iranian law permits can raise the price, which they did to 1billion Iranian Rial, in today's economy it is only a little more than $700.00, at the time of filming it was more. However, what this miniscule amount meant to the world, in actuality was a death sentence for Tahereh.
Soon it is time. Tahereh's lawyer has worked tirelessly on her behalf, they have appealed to Iranian film stars to help raise the money, to charitable organizations, and were only able to raise a portion of the monies.
During the final mediation, it was up to the family to accept the money or call for the execution. The family demanded payment, as the law states is their right. Tahereh's son Mohsen passionately begged his cousin to forgive his mother, that they are blood, imploring him don't orphan me. The family refused to be moved by his feelings. Finally, the arbitrator interjected and ended the demands and arguments of the family. Begrudgingly the family accepted the blood money for the death.
Tahereh was spared death.
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An Eye for an Eye is a disheartening and emotionally challenging film to watch. Understanding the idea of a civil penalty for the crimes is common, and many do face that after they serve out their prison sentences, but the notion that the civil penalty imposed could quite possibly be death is difficult.
As Iran refuses to allow women the same rights under the law, women are forced into marriages and many live under the threat daily of violence and abuse. The terror of constant battery is overlooked, and women are treated as chattel.
Gripping and deeply human, An Eye for an Eye lays bare the personal costs of systemic injustice, and the fierce resilience of a family fighting for their right to move forward.
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Country: Iran.
Language: Iranian with English subtitles.
Runtime: 84 minutes.
Opening: August 28, 2026.
Director: Tanaz Eshaghian, Farzad Jafari.
Producer: Christoph Jörg p.g.a, Katayoun Arsanjani, Joey Marra.
Executive Producers: David Cowan, Zhang Xin, William Horberg, Nina Fialkow, David Fialkow,
Tanaz Eshaghian.
Co-Producers: Kasper Lykke Schultz, Andreas Dalsgaard, Ines Bensalem.
Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Under the banner of her production company, HL Productions, LLC, Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.
