Written and directed by Ali Zanregar, Cause of Death: Unknown was banned in Iran for three years by the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The government of Iran never gave a reason why it was banned, nor why it was finally released. It is worth noting that one of the leading characters is an anti-government dissident who is trying to flee the country. In addition, the film exposes several weaknesses in governmental systems, including the economy, health care and law enforcement.
Majid (Ali Mohammad Radmanesh) makes his living driving a shuttle van between rural Shahdad and the city of Kerman. On this trip he has seven passengers. One of them is Najveh (Zakieh Behbahani), the deaf-mute mistress of Majid’s boss. Majid is in love with Najveh, but she is afraid to run away with him.
The other passengers include Peyman (Soheil Bavi), the dissident who is trying to escape Iran, and Bahar (Neda Jabraeili), his lover, who wants to go with him. There is also a man who has just been released from prison, an associate of the fleeing couple and Nadir (Alireza Sanifar), a grumpy, greedy man.
There is also one more man whom no one knows. When they stop to take a rest, the driver and his other passengers discover that this unknown man has died. Their reaction is to call emergency services, but the nearest hospital refuses to send an ambulance without the approval of a doctor. However, it is early in the morning, and they are unable to reach a doctor. In an attempt to find out who the dead man is, they search under his seat. No identification, but they do find a sack with a large amount of cash. Enter moral dilemma. Each person has a reason for wanting at least a portion of the cash. It turns out, for example, that the most unpleasant of the passengers, Nadir, has a wife who is ill and whose life could be saved if he could afford to take her to a decent, but costly, hospital.
In addition to the growing disputes as to what to do with the money, the driver and his passengers also disagree about what to do with the dead man’s body.
There is a surprise ending. In my opinion, Cause of Death: Unknown deserves attention outside of Iran. I thank The Asian World Film Festival for showing it in Culver City, California. Also, the film deserves remake versions in English and other languages.
