The Apple (1998) DVD

In Tehran, twin sisters live as virtual prisoners of their poor father and blind mother, locked behind bars for all of their twelve years. Their father argues that his daughters `are like flowers. They mustn't be exposed to the sun or they will soon fade'... A social worker attempts to persuade him to give them the freedom to explore the world beyond the gates of their home.

'The Apple' is the haunting first feature by Samira Makhmalbaf, the daughter of the Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, made when she was just seventeen. Based on a true incident and featuring the family involved, the film tells a bizarre but engaging story. With its unaffected charm and natural humour, `The Apple' won the Sutherland Trophy for best first feature at the London Film Festival.