TEHRAN — Three new 
Iranian films opened in cinemas on Tuesday, raising hopes of a revival in the country’s box office after months of sluggish ticket sales caused by prolonged screenings of a limited number of titles and repeated disruptions to cinema operations.
The releases of “Estakhr” (The Pool), “Zendeh Shour” (The Death Bath), and “Lebas-e Shakhsi” (Personal Clothes) come after industry experts and cinema owners had argued that audience-friendly productions and long-delayed films were needed to help reverse a sharp decline in admissions during the first four months of the Iranian year compared with the same period a year earlier.
According to ISNA, many producers had delayed releasing their films because of uncertainty over cinema operations and concerns that theaters could face further closures. Several previously banned films, including Ghatel va Vahshi (“The Killer and the Savage”) and Shishlik, also remain without a confirmed release date.
The latest releases follow the recent screenings of “Tehran Kenaret” (Tehran, Another View) and “Antique”, which were credited with providing a relative boost to cinema attendance in recent months.
The four films now showing represent a mix of genres, alongside the comedy “Khabnamā” (Dream Seer), which began screening on July 10.
Among the new releases, “The Pool”, directed by Soroush Sehat, has attracted particular attention following the director’s previous films, “Jahan Ba Man Beraghs” (“Dance with Me”) and “Breakfast with Giraffes”, both of which gained a strong following.
The film stars Amin Hayayi, Sahar Dolatshahi, and Sorena Sehat, with Alireza Khamseh, Pantea Panahiha, Bijan Bonafshekhah, Majid Yousefi, and Kazem Sayahi also appearing in the cast. According to reports cited by ISNA, the film’s final scene differs from the version screened at last year’s Fajr Film Festival.
The other major release, “The Death Bath”, follows a public prosecutor’s representative through a story combining tragic
 and uplifting moments. Bahram Afshari, best known in recent years for comedic roles, plays the lead in a dramatic performance that earned him the Crystal Simorgh for Best Actor at the Fajr Film Festival.
Maral Farjad received the Crystal Simorgh for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film, which also stars Shabnam Moghadami, Hamed Behdad, Amir Jafari, Sara Bahrami, Roya Javidnia, Sadaf Espahbodi, Alireza Ara, Muhammad Valizadegan, and Touraj Alvand.
Directed by Kazem Daneshi, The Death Bath also won awards for Best Director, Best Original Score, and the Audience Award for Best Film at the Fajr Film Festival.
The third new release, “Lebas-e Shakhsi” (Personal Clothes), reached cinemas after obtaining a screening permit seven years after its completion. The political drama depicts figures associated with the Tudeh Party during the early years following Iran’s Islamic Revolution.
The film marked the feature debut of director Amirabbas Rabiei, who has since directed “Zedd” (Against) and “Ahmad”. It stars Mehdi Nosrati, Keyvan Mahmoudnejad, and Toumaj Daneshbehzadi.
Meanwhile, the comedy “Khabnamā” (Dream Seer), directed by Reza Maghsoudi, began screening on July 10. Its cast includes Javad Razavian, Bahareh Kianafshar, Bijan Bonafshekhah, Naeimeh Nezamdoust, Kamand Amirsoleimani, and Yousef Sayadi.
According to the latest figures released through midday on July 15, Iranian cinemas have generated 148.75 billion tomans in ticket sales since March 21, with 1.265 million admissions.