Holy Spider | City Movie

The film is based on a real, shocking story that happened in Iran, in the city of Mashhad. The main character is a brave, uncompromising journalist, tracking down a serial killer of women (excellent in this role is Zar Amir Ebrahimi, awarded the Golden Palm in Cannes for her creation). The woman has against her both a fanatical criminal-psychopath, and a whole oppressive, patriarchal system.

“Holy Spider” works equally strongly on two planes. The first is, of course, a sensational, suspenseful thriller, with a classic investigative theme. Another is a commentary — more frightening than the murderer himself — on the current situation of women in Iran, where religious fanaticism and sanctioned violence are still the real source of horror.

“Holy Spider” is a film inspired by the best thrillers and images from the true crime scene, being at the same time a bitter, but extremely necessary social film, bringing us closer to the realities of the world, about the existence of which we have no idea on a daily basis.

“Holy Spider”, dir. Ali Abbasi, 116 min, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Jordan 2022

When: October 21, 2026 (Wednesday), 7 p.m.

Where: Culture Workshops in Lublin, Grodzka 5a, performance hall — 2nd floor

Admission is free