EMPTY YOUR POCKETS Review in One Film Fan

Another 5-star review — thank you to ONE FILM FAN’s generous analysis and insights on the film.

On the film:

“Empty Your Pockets is an exposé that showcases the “Stay in line, shut up, do your job, and don’t make a fuss” autocratical mindset with unequivocal strength yet then tempers it with the seeds of personal revolution that combats the inflexible “standards” of a dictatorial leadership trying to suppress all that makes us human.”

On Kiarash Dadgar as Hassan:

“Total believability and underlying fervency pair with grounded, understated, expressively engaging, wholly relatable vulnerability through Dadgar’s role as Hassan, a true “everyman” whose only goal is to find the means to provide for himself and his mother in the midst of a country facing almost insurmountable economic turmoil, ruled by an uncaring totalitarian government…How Hassan makes his way through this hurricane of apathy and enforced obedience while also wanting to just be the individual he really is both inspired yet heart-wrenching, and Dadgar’s performance encompasses the ebb and flow of emotional volatility beautifully and with utter credibility.”

On the ending:

“How the narrative ends up being driven home during the film’s very astutely presented finale leaves that indelible impression on your mind…”