Seven Unforgettable Fathers of Contemporary Cinema: Power, Trauma, and the Collapse of Authority

3. Raha – The Tragedy of a Wounded Father

Director: Hossam Farahmandjo
Genre: Psychological family drama
Key Cast: Shahab Hosseini, Ghazal Shakeri

The Illusion of the Heroic Father

In Raha, the father is not a villain, nor an anti-hero. He is a wounded man striving to be a hero—and failing.

Tohid, a 55-year-old father, lives an ordinary life until his daughter is kidnapped. From this moment on, the film dissects the emotional collapse of a man who desperately wants to protect his family but lacks the tools, power, and psychological strength to do so.

Tohid’s past work experiences haunt him, creating internal paralysis. Every attempt to save his daughter ends in frustration. The film avoids action-hero clichés and instead presents emotional realism, showing how trauma dismantles confidence and authority.

A New Kind of Masculine Representation

This portrayal resonates strongly with modern audiences because it challenges the myth of the invincible father. Here, love exists—but it is not enough.

January 3, 2026 | 6:23 pm