Time of Love

Time of Love

Year: 1991

Runtime: 75 mins

Language: Persian

Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Drama

Three episodes, all with relatively similar plots about a love triangle between a woman and two men.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Time of Love yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Time of Love (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Time of Love (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

İstanbul, Türkiye

İstanbul’s labyrinthine streets and waterfront provide a dense backdrop for a tale of love and betrayal. The city’s mosques, markets, and tramlines frame social pressures and moral codes, intensifying the characters' choices. Rumors travel quickly through crowded neighborhoods, shaping loyalties and fates.

🏙️ City life 🎭 Drama 🕌 Turkish culture

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:52

Main Characters – Time of Love (1991)

Meet the key characters of Time of Love (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Gozal — Şiva Gerede

Gozal is a married woman drawn into a dangerous love triangle, torn between longing and loyalty. She drives the narrative’s emotional core, exhibiting both vulnerability and defiance as she navigates betrayal. Her decisions lead to escalating conflict, tragedy, and ultimately despair. Her arc explores how passion can collide with social constraints and moral judgment.

🎭 Drama ❤️ Love 💔 Jealousy

Taxi driver husband — Menderes Samancılar

The blond-haired taxi driver is initially loyal but becomes consumed by jealousy and rage when confronted with infidelity. His actions propel the violence that punctuates the story and culminate in a terminal consequence he cannot escape. He embodies the destructive side of love and the social pressure to preserve honor. His arc examines the costs of possessiveness and vengeance.

🎭 Drama 💥 Violence

Old man — Abdurrahman Palay

The hard-of-hearing elder is a keen observer who eavesdrops on conversations and records birds. His information sets off the clashes between the other characters and reveals a motive of unrequited love. He represents the unpredictable catalyst whose gossip shapes outcomes. His presence highlights how rumor and memory influence fate.

🕵️‍♂️ Gossip

Black-haired hawker — Celal Hüsrevşahi

A rival in love who refuses to kill the blond rival in a crucial moment, choosing mercy over vengeance and altering the course of events. He demonstrates a complex mix of pride, restraint, and humanity within a harsh social environment. His actions preserve a glimmer of decency amid escalating conflict. He ultimately participates in the wedding’s emotional economy as a pivotal figure.

🎭 Drama 💔 Love

Blond-haired shoeshine boy — Akın Tunç

A young, desired figure whose relationship with Gozal triggers the chain of betrayals. His role embodies innocent vulnerability caught in adult conflicts and jealousy. His fate underscores the tragedy that unfolds when passion overrides caution. He acts as a catalyst whose presence intensifies the moral tension of the story.

💔 Love ⚔️ Conflict

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:52

Major Themes – Time of Love (1991)

Explore the central themes of Time of Love (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Love and Betrayal

Love drives Gozal into a dangerous affair that pits devotion against possession. The blond-haired and black-haired rivals mirror each other, each representing different paths of desire and risk. Jealousy fuels conflict between spouses and even the old man as the catalyst. The repeated cycles of passion and violence culminate in tragedy for all involved.

⚖️ Justice and Fate

The court and punishment frame a rigid social code where personal actions must be sanctioned. The death sentences and public judgments reflect a fatalistic view of consequences beyond individual choice. Each narrative ends with a form of collective judgment that seals the characters' fates. The film suggests that justice is as much about societal norms as about truth.

🌀 Truth and Deception

The old man’s revelations manipulate outcomes, blurring the line between truth and gossip. Characters cling to their own versions of events, causing escalating misinterpretations. The stories show how perception shapes reality, often more than actual actions.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:52

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Unlock the Full Story of Time of Love

Don't stop at just watching — explore Time of Love in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Time of Love is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Time of Love Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Time of Love, 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.

Time of Love Summary

Time of Love Timeline

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

Time of Love Timeline

More About Time of Love

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More About Time of Love