Screening Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 1:15 PM in Cinepolis: Theater 8 as part of Shorts Program 6 – MENA STORIES
By Valerie Milano
Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times)10/03/25 – In Kisses and Bullets, writer-director Faranak Sahafian delivers a visually arresting and emotionally layered short film about love, protest, and the unshakable human drive for freedom. The film resonates as both a personal portrait and a global rallying cry.
The story unfolds across two continents: in Tehran, where dissent can be deadly, and in New York, where expression is freer but no less urgent. These dual narratives converge around a single symbolic act, a kiss, that is photographed, shared, and amplified online. When these images go viral, they connect two women who, though strangers, embody a shared defiance against oppression. It is at once intimate and revolutionary, proving that even the simplest gestures can echo across borders.
“After watching my film, I hope people think about how kisses can overcome bullets,” Sahafian told me during our interview. “It’s about the love we put out there, and the way we portray the life we want to have.”
The film’s strength lies in its authenticity. Sahafian, who grew up in Iran and now lives in Los Angeles, drew inspiration from her experiences during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in 2022. She recalled attending solitary protests in the U.S. while her friends in Iran faced far greater risks. That duality became the heartbeat of Kisses and Bullets, a transnational meditation on courage, intimacy, and solidarity.
Visually, the film is striking thanks to Sahafian’s collaboration with her creative team, including production designer Julie and cinematographer CC, who worked meticulously to recreate Tehran with honesty and depth. At its core is the recurring image of lovers kissing, whether in Iran or New York, an image that crystallizes the idea of connected struggle and unspoken sisterhood.
“A couple kissing in New York and one in Iran… it’s like they know each other’s struggle without really knowing each other,” Sahafian said. “That photo was one of the first images that came to my mind.”
As a recent MFA graduate from Columbia University, Sahafian is eager to continue the film’s journey across Los Angeles and beyond. Audiences can follow updates on Instagram at @kissandbullets and @byfaranak.
Kisses and Bullets is more than a short film—it’s a statement, a reminder that acts of love can stand defiantly against violence, and that connection itself is a form of protest.
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