Crimson Gold

Tuesday, January 6 - Wednesday, January 7, 2026

SHOWTIMES AT IFC CENTER

Two master filmmakers, Abba Kiarostami and Jafar Panahi team up as writer and director, respectively, on CRIMSON GOLD, a subtle tragedy on class conflict in modern Iran.

Hussein (Hossain Emadeddin, a real-life pizza delivery man who has schizophrenia) is a lumbering war veteran swollen by cortisone (for war-induced pain) and reduced to delivering pizzas at night. Through his nightly rounds, he bears witness to the rewards and vanities of the city’s wealthy. He is humiliated when a jewelry shop owner won’t allow him in his store, and under pressure to get married, Hussein awkwardly aspires to higher ground. When an eccentric socialite gives him a taste of luxury, Hussein can no longer accept his lowly status.

Kiarostami based the story on an actual newspaper account of a botched robbery attempt at a Tehranian jewelry store by a desperate pizza deliveryman.

Screening as part of PANAHI & KIAROSTAMI: TWO MASTERS

See more and save! Get a Panahi & Kiarostami Ticket Pack  ($30 for IFC Center members and $45 for non-members). Ticket packs are good for any three screenings in the series.

  • Country Iran
  • Language Persian with English subtitles
  • Year 2003
  • Running Time 95 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor KimStim
  • Director Jafar Panahi
  • Writer Abbas Kiarostami
  • Cast Hossain Emadeddin, Kamyar Sheisi, Azita Rayeji, Shahram Vaziri, Ehsan Amani
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.