Still from The Great Yawn of HIstory (2024), by Aliyar Rasti.
Still from The Great Yawn of HIstory (2024), by Aliyar Rasti.
The Great Yawn of History
2:30 pm–4:15 pm
Directed by Aliyar Rasti (Iran, 2024, 93 min.). Farsi with English subtitles.
A mysterious, gently melancholic debut, The Great Yawn of History follows Beytollah, a devout middle-aged man convinced that his recurring dreams of gold coins hidden deep within a cave are divinely guided. Because claiming lost treasure is haram—forbidden by Islamic law—he hires Shoja, a young and disillusioned agnostic, to retrieve it for him. As the two men descend into Iran’s mythic underground landscapes, their uneasy partnership becomes a wry, searching meditation on faith, superstition, and the longing for certainty in an unstable world. Balancing deadpan humor with an undercurrent of existential dread, director Aliyar Rasti crafts a quietly astonishing tale of belief tested by darkness.
Wheelchair accessible
With English subtitles
Ticket Information
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.