Tomorrow, the Oscar®-qualifying animated short by Aryasb Feiz, is a striking and emotional exploration of survival, hope, and friendship—set against the backdrop of 1970s Iran. Through the story of a young street boy and his bond with a stray dog, Feiz weaves a tale not only of personal growth and connection but also of the harsh realities of growing up in a turbulent time and place.
For those familiar with the complexities of Iran in the 1970s, Tomorrow offers a poignant glimpse into the struggles of everyday life during an era of political unrest and economic hardship. The film captures the rawness of life in Shiraz, a city where poverty, social inequality, and tension were ever-present. Life on the streets for a child in this environment meant an early loss of innocence—an experience Feiz portrays with heartbreaking sincerity.
The lead-up to the 1979 Iranian Revolution brought a shifting landscape of uncertainty and instability, where many children, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, faced both economic and emotional hardships. Tomorrow encapsulates this struggle: the young boy at the centre of the story is navigating the rough streets with little more than his wits and sheer will to survive.
Feiz’s animation beautifully captures this gritty reality, offering a powerful sense of place that immerses the audience in the sights and sounds of 1970s Iran. The animators’ use of color—deep earth tones with touches of warmth during moments of connection between the boy and the dog—brings the viewer into the heart of a world where small, fleeting moments of tenderness shine through the harshness of daily life.
The boy’s life, though fictionalized, reflects the lived reality for many children in Iran during this era. Poverty was widespread, and the streets of Shiraz, like many Iranian cities at the time, were filled with children trying to scrape by. The bonds formed in such environments were often survival-based, yet they were also full of deep, lasting emotional connections. In Tomorrow, the boy’s relationship with the stray dog symbolizes more than just companionship—it’s an escape from the brutal isolation that defined his world. This connection offers both characters a small beacon of hope, an emotional anchor amid a turbulent, uncertain reality.
Despite the challenges, Tomorrow is ultimately a story of hope, underscoring the resilience of the human spirit even in the most difficult of times. Feiz’s ability to convey the complexities of childhood in 1970s Iran—marked by both hardship and moments of unexpected tenderness—transforms this animated short into a deeply personal and universal narrative.
As the film continues to earn accolades and recognition, including festival nominations and a win at the Foyle Film Festival, it stands as a powerful testament to Feiz’s vision and his ability to bring a unique, personal history to life on screen. Tomorrow serves as both a beautiful reflection on childhood in Iran and a universal story about survival, hope, and the quiet moments of connection that define our lives.
For anyone looking to understand the emotional and cultural landscape of 1970s Iran, Tomorrow provides a rare, intimate glimpse into a world shaped by both hardship and hope.
