It’s said that every one of us has at least five people in the world who look exactly like us. Once, I saw a woman on the highway driving the exact same car as me—and she looked exactly like me. When our eyes met, the horror on her face mirrored my own. She quickly took the next exit, and I still regret not following her. Why did I want to? I’m not sure. But the mystery of it lingers.
I’ve always been fascinated by doppelgängers, so when I heard about Tafrigh (Subtraction), I knew I couldn’t miss it. I love movies like Us, Annihilation, Another Earth, and Solaris, and this one was set in Tehran, a city I rarely get to see portrayed on screen.
The story follows Farzaneh, a driving instructor in her third trimester of pregnancy, as she notices her husband Jalal boarding a bus to an upscale apartment block. Convinced he’s having an affair, she enlists her father-in-law to spy on him. What she discovers is far stranger: a man who looks exactly like Jalal but isn’t him, and another woman who looks exactly like her. From there, the lives of these two couples twist and tangle in ways that are thrilling, darkly funny, and unexpectedly touching.
The movie captures Tehran in a way that’s both vivid and eerie—there’s a constant rain, even when the sun is shining. You can feel the weight of secrets in every dripping rooftop and every swipe of a windshield wiper. The suspense is razor-sharp as the characters make choices that bring their parallel lives closer together. Every encounter, every near-miss feels like it’s hanging on a thread, pushing the story toward revelations that are both deeply human and unnervingly strange.
Watching Subtraction, I couldn’t help but reflect on how we all live multiple versions of ourselves. In our personal and professional lives, we adapt, change, and sometimes even compartmentalize to survive or thrive. This duality provides some interesting lessons:
1. Self-Awareness: Understanding the "versions" of yourself that you show in different contexts is key to authenticity. Know when these identities are necessary and when they might hold you back.
2. Adaptability: Like the characters in "Subtraction", we face environments where we need to adapt to survive or thrive. Success often lies in navigating these complexities without losing sight of who we truly are.
3. Transparency and Integrity: The film’s tension reminds us of the cost of secrecy and the importance of alignment between our private and public selves—something invaluable in personal growth and building trust in professional relationships.
4. Facing the Unknown: Sometimes, the scariest part of life is confronting "another version" of ourselves—our mistakes, fears, or hidden desires. Yet doing so often leads to deeper understanding and growth.
"Subtraction" isn’t just a thriller; it’s a deep exploration of identity, connection, and the choices that shape who we are. No matter how many versions of us exist, the most important one is the one we choose to own.
Pair it with Kava to get into a calming, introspective state without intense alteration of perception. It could enhance the film's tension and emotional beats, allowing you to feel grounded while reflecting on the characters' complex dynamics.
