This is a brilliant, yet shocking documentary detailing the activities of a serial killer using the state religion of Iran to justify the entrapment and murder of 16 street walkers.
Interspersed with photos of his victims, both alive and as found by Iranian police, we meet the killer's family and friends - who all support and encourage his past killings. Most frightening is the man's smiling son proclaiming that he is yet to decide if he will follow in his father's footsteps.
The balance is brought into this picture through interviews with the sentencing judge, a female journalist, and an interview with an unidentified prostitute. These people are used to contrast the self-righteous attitude of the killer, and also give a very moderate view of the social state of Iran. The film also serves to highlight the plight of workers in the sex industry where prostitution is not only illegal, but can be punishable by stoning.
Being a mild dilettante in the area of serial killers I found it fascinating to see the parallels between sociopaths in western society, and the gentleman portrayed here. The mildness with which he discusses his murder of these women jarrs with the physical violence demonstrated in the photos of the cadavers.
The film is an excellent, if extreme, example of how all countries, christian or muslim, suffer from the similar problems of hate, and fear.
