The Iranian black comedy Pig (Khook) that world premiered at the 2018 Berlin Film Festival, opened at New York’s IFC Center on February 1, to be followed by the Laemmle Theater in Los Angeles on February 15.

Hasan is full of rage. As a blacklisted director, he hasn’t been allowed to make a film in years. His favorite actress, Shiva, is impatient and wants to work with other directors. His wife Goli seems to have fallen out of love with him. His daughter Alma is all grown up and independent. His old loving mother is slowly losing her mind. A man-child, almost completely reliant on the women in his life, Hassan might consider casting his attractive stalker Annie if only he could make a film. To make matters worse, Hasan is upset that he is being inexplicably ignored by the serial killer who has been decapitating the country’s best filmmakers.

All these frustrations come to a head when, through a series of bizarre misunderstandings, Hasan becomes the prime suspect in the murder case. Social media is abuzz with false accusations, and Hasan must come up with an ingenious plan to restore his reputation…

Director Mani Haghighi (b.1969, Tehran) studied philosophy at McGill University in Montreal before returning to Iran to make films. To the international viewer he’s also known for 50 Kilos of Sour Cherries, A Dragon Arrives! (Berlinale Competition) and Modest Reception (Berlinale Forum), among others.