Marmoolak - The Lizard

“The Lizard” is an Iranian film from 2004. Directed by Kamal Tabrizi it tells the story of a thief who was caught climbing up the wall of the building he was going to break in, hence his nickname Marmoolak, lizard. He is played by highly regarded Iranian theatre actor Parviz Parastooi. Marmoolak was jailed but couldn’t bear it. He tried to commit suicide but ended up in the hospital of the prison. There he met a man, who was a mullah. When the clergy was in the shower, Marmoolak stole his clothes and was able to escape from prison by disguising as this mullah. From then on the film, which was meant as a comedy, turned to a satire of the current situation in Iran where mullahs are dominating daily life.
Disguised as a mullah Marmoolak, the thief, gets into various delicate situations from then on. When people ask him to lead the prayers he has no other choice than do so. He mumbles into his beard as he has no idea how to pray. He makes sexist jokes with a mother and her daughter when they stay in the same train compartment. He even wears sunglasses as former Iranian president Khatami at that time did.
One month after the film came to cinemas in Iran, and filled halls because of its scandalous nature, it was prohibited because the government felt it was offensive. The film received an award at the Iran International Film Festival.

Here is a clip of Marmoolak climbing up a wall still disguised as a mullah, to the surprise of everyone.