About Elly (2009)

About Elly (Darbareye Elly) is a masterfully crafted Iranian psychological drama written and directed by Asghar Farhadi, known for his deep, humanistic storytelling and ethical complexity. Released in 2009, the film explores themes of truth, honor, and social pressure through a deceptively simple vacation trip that spirals into a tense mystery. Often compared to works by Hitchcock or Antonioni (L’Avventura), About Elly balances suspense with profound emotional resonance.

Detailed Summary

A Seemingly Innocent Vacation

The story begins with a group of middle-class Iranian friends taking a three-day vacation by the Caspian Sea. Among the travelers is Sepideh, who invites Elly, her daughter’s kindergarten teacher, in hopes of setting her up with Ahmad, a recently divorced friend visiting from Germany.

The group dynamic is light-hearted at first, with jokes, card games, and teasing among friends. Elly is quiet, polite, and somewhat reserved, which intrigues Ahmad. Sepideh insists Elly stays for the entire trip despite her protests that her mother is ill and she needs to return.

The Sudden Disappearance

On the second day, the tone drastically shifts. After a short moment when the adults are distracted, the children begin to drown in the sea. Elly had been asked to watch them. The adults save the children—but Elly is nowhere to be found.

The group immediately fears she drowned trying to save the children, and a desperate search begins. However, no body is found, and questions start to arise: Did she really try to save the children? Did she leave intentionally? Did something else happen?

The Web of Lies and Social Pressure

As the group scrambles to understand what happened, their own lies and social facades begin to unravel. The biggest revelation is that Sepideh lied about Elly’s marital status: she had claimed Elly was single, but in truth, Elly was engaged. This deception becomes a critical focal point for the group’s guilt and self-justification.

The male members of the group are especially upset, not only because of the situation but because of the perceived damage to their honor. They fear what Elly’s fiancé will think when he learns she was on a trip with strangers.

This anxiety grows into a full-blown moral crisis, and the focus shifts from finding Elly to protecting the group’s reputation.

Movie Ending

The film concludes in a subdued yet emotionally shattering sequence. Elly’s fiancé arrives after being contacted by the group. He is devastated and confused, and he confirms that Elly had called him before the trip, asking to break off their engagement—suggesting she may have been planning to assert independence or make a major life change.

After more silence and tension, Elly’s body is eventually found washed ashore.

The final shot is of Ahmad driving Elly’s fiancé back home, both men in stunned, devastated silence. The film ends not with catharsis, but with a profound sense of moral ambiguity. No one is entirely to blame, yet everyone is complicit. It’s a haunting ending that forces the viewer to reflect on the consequences of even well-intentioned lies.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, About Elly does not have any post-credits scenes. The ending is intentionally abrupt and emotionally weighty, offering no additional resolution or closure.

Type of Movie

About Elly is a psychological drama and mystery with elements of social realism. It blends suspense with cultural commentary, characteristic of Asghar Farhadi’s work.

Cast

• Golshifteh Farahani as Sepideh
• Shahab Hosseini as Amir (Sepideh’s husband)
• Taraneh Alidoosti as Elly
• Peyman Maadi as Peyman
• Mani Haghighi as Manouchehr
• Merila Zarei as Shohreh
• Saber Abar as Alireza (Elly’s fiancé)
• Shahram Haghighat Doost as Ahmad

Film Music and Composer

Unlike many conventional films, About Elly uses minimal to no non-diegetic music. This stylistic choice heightens the realism and natural tension of the story, making every scene feel more immediate and grounded. The sparse use of music contributes to the film’s emotional rawness.

Filming Locations

The film was shot on location by the Caspian Sea in northern Iran. The vast, unpredictable sea becomes a character of its own—symbolizing chaos, hidden truths, and the uncontrollable consequences of human actions. The remote villa and shoreline contribute to the feeling of isolation and claustrophobia as the group’s secrets begin to emerge.

Awards and Nominations

About Elly won several prestigious international awards, including:

• Silver Bear for Best Director – Berlin International Film Festival (2009)
• Best Narrative Feature – Tribeca Film Festival (2009)
• Multiple awards at Fajr Film Festival in Iran
• It was also Iran’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards

Behind the Scenes Insights

• The film was shot largely in sequence, which allowed actors to experience the emotional escalation more naturally.
• Director Farhadi kept Elly’s fate hidden from some of the cast to elicit authentic reactions during certain scenes.
• Much of the film’s tension was captured with handheld camerawork, increasing the realism and urgency.
• The cast rehearsed extensively but also improvised, adding to the natural flow of dialogue.
• Farhadi was heavily involved in every aspect, from casting to editing, ensuring his vision remained intact.

Inspirations and References

About Elly is not based on a specific book but was inspired by Farhadi’s own observations of Iranian middle-class social norms and how lies—however small—can spiral out of control.

Cinematic influences include:

• L’Avventura (1960) by Michelangelo Antonioni
• The Celebration (Festen) by Thomas Vinterberg
• Farhadi’s own fascination with moral complexity found in works by European auteurs

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no widely known alternate endings, but some deleted scenes reportedly involved extended moments of group tension after Elly’s disappearance, which were cut to maintain pacing and avoid over-explaining the emotional turmoil.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The movie is not adapted from a book, but its script has literary qualities and has been analyzed in academic circles as a study in narrative ethics, realism, and ensemble storytelling.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The group playing charades and laughing—moments of joy before the unraveling.
• The frantic search for Elly on the beach—raw panic and fear captured in real time.
• Sepideh revealing the lie about Elly’s engagement—an emotional turning point.
• The moment Elly’s fiancé arrives—awkward, tragic, and loaded with tension.

Iconic Quotes

• “We’re not bad people.” – A recurring sentiment as the group tries to justify its actions.
• “A lie is a lie, even if it’s for someone’s good.” – One of the central moral questions of the film.
• “You didn’t ask her. You just assumed she was free.” – Said to Sepideh, reflecting assumptions rooted in culture and class.

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Elly’s frequent glances toward the sea throughout the first half of the film foreshadow her possible inner turmoil or intent.
• The use of windows and door frames in cinematography subtly suggests emotional and physical entrapment.
• The children’s game and innocence contrast sharply with the adults’ lies and guilt—a recurring motif in Farhadi’s work.

Trivia

• The film was banned briefly in Iran after Farhadi made controversial political remarks.
• It was Farhadi’s breakout international film, paving the way for A Separation (2011).
• Golshifteh Farahani’s appearance in this film was one of her last before she was unofficially banned from acting in Iran.
• The film’s ambiguous tone was praised by critics worldwide for treating the audience as intelligent participants in moral questioning.

Why Watch?

About Elly is essential viewing for anyone interested in human behavior under pressure, social realism, and nuanced moral storytelling. It doesn’t offer easy answers, but it poses questions that stay with you long after the credits roll. It’s one of those rare films where a single lie can create a narrative more gripping than any gunshot or explosion.

Director’s Other Movies

• A Separation (2011)
• The Salesman (2016)
• The Past (2013)
• Everybody Knows (2018)
• A Hero (2021)

Recommended Films for Fans

• L’Avventura (1960)
• The Celebration (1998)
• Force Majeure (2014)
• The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
• The Hunt (2012)
• A Separation (2011)