When Pomegranates Howl (2021): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2021, When Pomegranates Howl is a drama and war film directed by Granaz Moussavi, running about 83 minutes. “A rich new work from the streets of Kabul” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Shot on the streets of Kabul, Granaz Moussavi’s (My Tehran For Sale) outstanding new feature is in the tradition of the great child-centred works of the 1980s when filmmakers such as Kiarostami, Panahi and Amir Naderi (to whom this film is dedicated) were putting Iranian cinema in the forefront of world production. 9-year-old Hewad is an irrepressible, street-smart kid who is energetically working every angle, hustling everything from pomegranate juice to amulets to protection from the evil eye. His real ambition is to be a movie star, and this comes a step closer when he meets an Australian photographer. But in a city where every family has a member who has been “martyred,” the streets are as perilous as they are vivid. Australia’s recent involvement with Afghanistan has been mixed, to say the best. The deeply-felt humanism of this film might just be our most effective contribution to that troubled country.

Who’s in it. When Pomegranates Howl stars ARAFAT FAIZ, ELHAM AYAZI and ANDREW QUILTY.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, When Pomegranates Howl has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. In AU you can stream it on Beamafilm and rent or buy it from Beamafilm. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch When Pomegranates Howl page.

If you liked it. Fans of When Pomegranates Howl tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.