This post is also available in:
Italiano (Italian) 
Deutsch (German)
by Reza Rasouli
grade: 7.5
In Night of Passage, it is precisely the human component that plays a fundamental role. No one is truly innocent; everyone is both victim and perpetrator, forced to ‘dehumanise’ themselves by a cruel and unscrupulous system. At the Vienna Shorts 2025.
Towards a better future?
Every day we read numerous stories in the newspaper about migrants, whose journeys often end tragically. Yet how many of us really ask ourselves what these people feel when they face such difficult challenges, when they suddenly change their lives, when they see their loved ones die in an attempt to save themselves, to simply live a better life? In his short film Night of Passage, winner of the Best Fiction Short Film Award at the Diagonale 2025 and presented at the Vienna Shorts 2025, Iranian director Reza Rasouli depicts just such a situation, allowing us to experience the lives of three people at a decisive moment in their existence.
And so, in Night of Passage, we witness the story of three friends – two men and a woman – who are trying to reach the border between Austria and Slovakia from Iran, travelling in a van that is illegally transporting migrants. However, their journey takes an unexpected turn when the three are thrown out of the vehicle. At this point, their only option is to wait for the next van, while trying to find food and a place to sleep without being noticed by anyone. What will happen next?
With a particular focus on the emotions and sensations experienced by the three protagonists, especially anxiety, fear, but also physical fatigue during their misadventure, Night of Passage stands out above all for its fast pace, further enhanced by masterful editing and a successful crescendo of suspense.
During the day, as we know, it is always very difficult to hide and remain unnoticed, but at night, although it is easier to ensure that no one notices us, it becomes increasingly difficult to deal with any difficulties, make important decisions, and discern what is really important and what is not. It is precisely the darkness of night, capable of rendering human beings ‘blind’ to every possible situation, that symbolically represents the darkness of a condition from which there seems to be no way out, the darkness of the soul, the loss of all hope and humanity.
Yes, because, in fact, in Night of Passage it is precisely the human component that plays a fundamental role. No one is truly innocent; everyone is both victim and perpetrator, forced to ‘dehumanise’ themselves by a cruel and unscrupulous system. It is interesting to note, in this regard, how Reza Rasouli observed his protagonists without judging them, but accompanying them on their journey with an empathetic gaze, thus demonstrating a deep understanding of the human soul (and, of course, of the medium of film itself). His Night of Passage is therefore proof of a talent that promises to bring us great satisfaction again in the future. And who knows how many other stories will hit us like a punch in the stomach.
Original title: Night of Passage
Directed by: Reza Rasouli
Country/year: Austria / 2025
Running time: 19’
Genre: drama
Cast: Arshia Pakdel, Moné Sharif, Ali Tavakol
Screenplay: Reza Rasouli
Cinematography: Konstantin Johann
Produced by: Filmakademie Wien