This Iranian film presents a perplexing tale about a secretive duo from Tehran who travel to a destitute mountain village near the border, handing out large sums of money. Initially unfolding as a dark comedy, the film’s tone shifts as the antics of Kaveh (played by director Mani Haghighi) and Leyla (Taraneh Alidoosti) grow increasingly twisted, devising creative methods to degrade the money’s recipients. The protagonists’ lack of morality is often disturbing, and their web of deceit is as baffling to the audience as it is to the villagers portrayed in the film. What is the nature of their relationship, and why are they distributing money to those in need? “Modest Reception” offers no straightforward answers or tidy conclusions; instead, Haghighi invites viewers on a captivating journey into the shadowy depths of human nature.