ASHKAN, THE CHARMED RING & OTHER STORIES

Director Shahram Mokri’s first feature is a delightfully offbeat B&W comedy about the mysterious workings of Fate, played out in deadpan Jim Jarmusch-y vignettes. Two blind jewel thieves, a young man who can’t succeed at killing himself, a love-struck police officer and two female morgue attendants find their lives interconnected when an unusual fish is set free and a charmed ring is moved. Watch for sly references to noir classics including LE SAMOURAI and KISS ME DEADLY in this wonderful, eccentric Iranian gem.