The Old Bachelor

The Old Bachelor

Year: 2024

Runtime: 192 mins

Language: Persian

Director: Oktay Baraheni

Echo Score: 82
ThrillerDrama

Set against the backdrop of a struggling Iranian economy, the film follows two middle-aged brothers living under the oppressive rule of their abusive, chauvinistic father. His previous wife left due to his volatile temper, and now he directs his anger toward his eldest son, while the younger brother harbors violent fantasies. The arrival of a young woman renting the apartment above, whom the father intends to marry, creates unexpected complications when she develops an attraction to the older son, pushing the already strained family dynamics to a breaking point.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Old Bachelor (2024)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Old Bachelor (2024). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Gholam Bastani's old two-story house, Ghamkhar's junk shop, Rana's upstairs apartment, Rana's parents' home

The action centers on a decaying, crowded house that serves as the core battleground for the family. The junk shop run by Ghamkhar appears as a secondary hub for schemes and manipulation. Rana moves between the upstairs apartment and her parents' home, highlighting precarious living arrangements amidst mounting tension. The confined spaces reinforce how quickly control, desire, and fear erupt into violence.

🏚️ Domestic setting 💔 Family conflict 🧭 Power dynamics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:21

Main Characters – The Old Bachelor (2024)

Meet the key characters of The Old Bachelor (2024), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Gholam Bastani (Hassan Pourshirazi)

An aging, wealthy man who is both a drug addict and womanizer. He uses money and charm to control his sons and to pursue Rana, ignoring the consequences for his family. His volatile temperament leads to aggressive manipulation, and his crimes culminate in violence.

💊 Addiction 🧔 Patriarch 💰 Wealth

Ali Bastani (Hamed Behdad)

The older son and a bookseller who loses his job and clashes with colleagues. He becomes entangled with Rana, resisting his father's plans but fighting to protect the family’s home. His passion for Rana and loyalty to family drive his reckless retaliation in the final confrontation.

💔 Family conflict 🧭 Loyalties 📚 Bookseller

Reza Bastani (Mohammad Valizadegan)

The younger son who works at a real estate agency and openly fantasizes about killing his father. He is drawn into the toxic dynamic of the house and ultimately becomes a casualty of the escalating violence.

🏘️ Real estate 💥 Frustration 💔 Family conflict

Raana (Leila Hatami)

A young woman who moves into the upstairs apartment, quickly recognizing Gholam's predatory intentions. She forms a bond with Ali while navigating the men’s pursuit, ultimately sparking a dangerous chain of events. Her stance and choices drive the tension between independence and dependence.

💃 Love interest 🧭 Agency 💔 Vulnerability

Ghamkhar (Mohammad-Reza Davoudnejad)

Owner of a junk shop and an ally to Gholam, he fuels the scheme by introducing Rana into the power-plays around money and sex. His opportunistic meddling heightens the stakes and accelerates the conflict.

🧰 Junk shop 🤝 Intermediary 💸 Money

Raana's father (Reza Rouygari)

Raana's father, mentioned as the family patriarchal line, who anchors Rana's background and safety. His presence underscores the household’s instability and the consequences of the men’s actions on the family unit.

👨‍👧 Family 🏡 Domestic life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:21

Major Themes – The Old Bachelor (2024)

Explore the central themes of The Old Bachelor (2024), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👨‍👦 Patriarchal Control

Gholam Bastani wields money, charm, and authority to dominate his sons and dictate the household’s choices. His refusal to acknowledge his sons' needs or the consequences of his actions reveals a corrosive male ego. When confronted, his control becomes overt coercion and manipulation. The film uses this dynamic to show how patriarchal power can erode family bonds and end in tragedy.

💘 Desire and Betrayal

Rana becomes the focal point around which desire, jealousy, and loyalty collide. Gholam's predatory pursuit clashes with Ali's growing affection for Rana, testing family loyalty and moral boundaries. The tension between affection and coercion drives secrecy, resentment, and risky decisions. The pursuit ultimately leads to betrayals that fracture the family further and propel the plot toward violence.

⚔️ Violence and Consequences

The mounting tensions erupt into a fatal confrontation that consumes the family. The father-son rivalry escalates to lethal action, resulting in deaths and a complete breakdown of the household. The violence serves as a blunt commentary on how unchecked desire, power, and resentment can destroy not only individuals but entire families. The ending underscores the irreversible cost of the characters’ choices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:21

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about intense family breakdowns like The Old Bachelor

Stories where a family unit collapses under the weight of internal toxicity and external pressures.For viewers seeking more movies like The Old Bachelor, this section features intense dramas and thrillers centered on family conflict and systemic abuse. These films explore the devastating impact of toxic relationships within a household, often culminating in a violent or bleak climax.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear but tightly focused path, often centered on one household. They build tension by introducing a catalyst (like a new person or a financial crisis) into an already volatile family dynamic. Character arcs revolve around escalating anger, desperate acts, and the tragic downfall of all involved, with a sense of fatalism permeating the story.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a heavy emotional weight, a dark and oppressive tone, and a narrative focus on the systematic destruction of family bonds. They deliver an intense, emotionally taxing viewing experience defined by claustrophobic settings and a relentless build-up to a breaking point.

Movies with simmering tension and explosive characters like The Old Bachelor

Character-driven stories where repressed emotions create a constant, simmering threat of violence.If you liked the mounting dread and volatile character dynamics in The Old Bachelor, explore these films. They feature a steady pacing that builds psychological tension, centered on characters whose repressed anger and dangerous fantasies create a palpable sense of impending disaster.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a steady, deliberate build-up of psychological unease. The plot is driven by the internal states of its characters—their fantasies, traumas, and repressed rage—more than by external events. The slow accretion of small indignities and pressures creates a sense of inevitability, making the eventual violent outburst feel both shocking and tragically preordained.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on internal tension and psychological decay. They prioritize a heavy, oppressive mood and a steady pacing that allows dread to accumulate. The experience is defined by watching characters on a fatalistic collision course with disaster, making the viewer complicit in the anticipation of violence.

Unlock the Full Story of The Old Bachelor

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The Old Bachelor Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Old Bachelor, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Old Bachelor Summary

The Old Bachelor Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Old Bachelor with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Old Bachelor Timeline

The Old Bachelor Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Old Bachelor Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Old Bachelor

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