HOLY SPIDER Persian Film Fest Screening
Friday 23. January at 21:00 - 23:00
FOMO Secret Cinema, Tbilisi
Proudly presented as part of our extended Persian Film Fest at FOMO Secret Cinema.
Ali Abbasi | 2022 | Iran Denmark | 116 minutes | original Persian audio with English subtitles
HOLY SPIDER is a dramatisation of the true story of "Spider Man" - the serial killer who murdered 16 prostitutes in Iran's holiest city of Mashhad. Believing he was carrying out a religious mission, he would dump the bodies in the most religious areas of Mashhad. A female journalist investigates the crimes while facing hostility from authorities and many members of the public who want to hide the truth.
The film exists within Iranian cinema in exile and aligns with the third wave in its direct confrontation of misogyny, religious extremism, and institutional protection. Abbasi was unable to film in Iran, and the film’s release caused outrage among conservative figures.
HOLY SPIDER sparked controversy at Cannes but was widely praised for exposing how violence against women has been normalized within the Ayatollah's religious framework. It is a disturbing portrait of a society where moral authority shields brutality, and at the same time a courageous story of one brave woman's search for justice and the truth.
Location: FOMO Secret Cinema, Bazari Orbeliani, Tbilisi. A five minute walk from Liberty Square metro
How to find FOMO: Enter the Bazari via Atoneli St above Carrefour and take the stairs on your left behind the jewellery stand. One flight up. Video instructions here
FOMO Secret Cinema • Bazari Orbeliani, 0102 Tbilisi, Georgia