The Salesman (2016)

Last updated:
June 8, 2025

The Salesman (original title: Forushande) is a 2016 Iranian drama film written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Asghar Farhadi. Known for his nuanced portrayal of human relationships, moral ambiguity, and social issues, Farhadi delivers a quiet but powerful exploration of trauma, revenge, and justice in this Academy Award-winning film.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

A Sudden Eviction: The Crumbling Apartment

Emad (Shahab Hosseini) and Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti), a married couple, are forced to evacuate their apartment after it begins to collapse due to nearby construction. The couple are also both actors performing in a local production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, with Emad in the lead role. A friend helps them find temporary housing—a small apartment that once belonged to a woman rumored to be a sex worker.

An Act of Violence: The Home Invasion

Shortly after moving in, Rana is attacked while showering. She leaves the door unlocked, assuming it was Emad returning home. Instead, an unknown man enters and assaults her. The film doesn’t show the attack directly, but the emotional and psychological aftermath is palpable. Rana is traumatized, and Emad becomes increasingly obsessed with finding the assailant.

Cracks in the Relationship

The attack places a growing strain on their marriage. Emad wants revenge, while Rana is unwilling to engage with the police or relive the incident. As Emad investigates, he uncovers that the previous tenant was a woman who had many male clients—implying the attacker was one of them, mistakenly returning to the apartment.

The Search for Justice: Emad’s Personal Investigation

Emad eventually tracks down the assailant: an elderly man who had visited the former tenant. Rather than go to the police, Emad invites him to the apartment under false pretenses and confronts him privately. The man’s daughter and son-in-law arrive to pick him up, unaware of the situation. Emad threatens to expose him unless he confesses to his family.

This moment sets the stage for the movie’s most intense moral conflict: What does justice look like in the absence of law? Is revenge ever justified? Emad struggles between empathy, anger, and the need for closure.

Movie Ending

Emad forces the man to confess in front of his family, humiliating him in a calculated act of revenge. The man, already in poor health, collapses from stress and is taken away by his family. Emad remains visibly disturbed, realizing the weight of what he’s done—not just to the assailant, but to himself and Rana.

The final scenes return to the theater. Emad and Rana are back on stage, playing Willy and Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman. The lines they deliver mirror their own emotional disintegration. The film ends with the two of them in the dressing room, not speaking—physically present but emotionally fractured.

There is no catharsis, no triumphant conclusion—only the quiet acknowledgment of damage done.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Salesman does not have any post-credits scenes. The film ends with a lingering emotional silence that reflects the story’s tone. There’s nothing after the credits that adds to or continues the narrative.

Type of Movie

The Salesman is a drama and psychological thriller with strong social realism elements. It’s a film that examines moral dilemmas more than it chases plot twists. Slow-paced and dialogue-driven, it’s designed to provoke introspection.

Cast

Shahab Hosseini as Emad Etesami
Taraneh Alidoosti as Rana Etesami
Babak Karimi as Babak
Farid Sajjadi Hosseini as the old man (the assailant)
Mina Sadati as Sanam

Film Music and Composer

There is no traditional score or background music throughout most of the film. Asghar Farhadi is known for using naturalistic sound design to maintain a sense of realism. Music is sparingly used, focusing instead on the tension and atmosphere created by dialogue, silence, and ambient sound.

Filming Locations

The movie was shot entirely in Tehran, Iran. Key scenes take place in modest apartment buildings, theater rehearsal spaces, and city streets. The urban setting is not just a backdrop but plays an essential role in highlighting the socio-economic pressures and cultural codes that affect the characters’ choices.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (2017) – Winner
Cannes Film Festival – Best Screenplay – Winner
Cannes Film Festival – Best Actor (Shahab Hosseini) – Winner
Numerous awards and nominations from festivals including Toronto, Munich, and Palm Springs.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Farhadi wrote the screenplay while in Berlin for another project and was initially uncertain if it would be filmed in Iran.
Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti had worked with Farhadi before (About Elly, The Past), leading to a strong creative trust.
The theater scenes were filmed in a real Tehran theater, with actors performing full-length rehearsals of Death of a Salesman.
Farhadi was influenced by Hitchcock’s use of suspense through character psychology rather than overt action.
The casting of the old man (Farid Sajjadi Hosseini) was critical—Farhadi wanted an actor who could simultaneously evoke sympathy and suspicion.

Inspirations and References

Directly references Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, both in the story and thematically.
Emad’s portrayal of Willy Loman parallels his own disillusionment and emotional collapse.
The film also nods to Iranian cinematic traditions of minimalism and social critique, drawing inspiration from directors like Abbas Kiarostami.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no officially released alternate endings, but Farhadi is known for shooting multiple takes with slightly different emotional tones. Some deleted material reportedly included more scenes of Emad’s emotional breakdown, which were cut to preserve narrative pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a novel, but heavily integrates Death of a Salesman thematically. Miller’s play serves as a parallel story—exploring pride, personal failure, and societal pressure. Farhadi uses this as a subtle lens to examine Emad and Rana’s unraveling relationship.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The moment Rana is found bleeding and shaken in the bathroom.
Emad chasing down the clues leading to the assailant.
The final confrontation in the apartment between Emad and the old man.
The performance of Death of a Salesman, blurring the line between fiction and reality.

Iconic Quotes

Rana: “You think you’re the only one who’s suffering?”
Emad: “If I don’t do something, I won’t be able to look at myself again.”
Old Man: “Please, don’t tell them. They’ll never forgive me.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Emad is a literature teacher by day—this reinforces the film’s deep literary and theatrical undertones.
The repeated use of mirrors in scenes subtly emphasizes self-reflection and dual identities.
The sound of a doorbell becomes a symbol of uncertainty and dread throughout the film.

Trivia

The film was banned in some Middle Eastern countries due to its sensitive subject matter.
Farhadi did not attend the 2017 Oscars in protest of the U.S. travel ban affecting Muslim-majority countries.
Shahab Hosseini also starred in Farhadi’s A Separation, which won the Oscar in 2012.
Filming took just 25 days and used a largely local crew.
Farhadi’s scripts are often written without a clear ending, allowing actors to explore the character organically.

Why Watch?

The Salesman is not just a drama—it’s a moral puzzle. It’s a gripping psychological exploration of justice, pride, and the cost of vengeance. The movie’s power lies in its quiet intensity, emotional depth, and refusal to offer easy answers. If you appreciate films that trust your intelligence and confront you with difficult questions, this is essential viewing.

Director’s Other Movies

A Separation (2011)
About Elly (2009)
The Past (2013)
Everybody Knows (2018)
A Hero (2021)

The Salesman (2016)

Detailed Summary