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The Freedom Trap

Rostam, a teenage student in the 1970s, is tortured and executed in the brutal prisons of the Islamic Republic for supporting a leftist group and opposing the regime. He is one of the first victims, but not the last. Years later, during a tragic summer, thousands of political prisoners are secretly executed and buried in mass graves.Decades later, a grieving brother and a survivor of the massacre unite to expose the regime’s crimes and bring perpetrators to justice. In The Freedom Trap, their efforts lead to the arrest of a "Death Committee" member in Sweden. Survivors and families gather to seek truth and justice in a historic trial. But can true justice ever be achieved?

  • Nima Sarvestani
    Director
  • Malla Grapengiesser
    Producer
  • Stiven Seidenberg
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 23 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 1, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    Sweden
  • Country of Filming:
    Albania, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English, Persian, Swedish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital,4k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Nima Sarvestani

Nima Sarvestani, an Emmy-winning director, began his career as a journalist in Iran and transitioned to documentary filmmaking after moving to Sweden in 1984.
He founded Nimafilm in 1992 and has over 30 years of experience creating compelling films on human rights and social justice.
Known for his character-driven storytelling, Nima’s acclaimed works include No Burqas Behind Bars (2012), Those Who Said No (2014), Born to Struggle (2022), and the upcoming The Freedom Trap (2025).
He is currently working on two projects: Where Have All My Friends Gone? and Mrs. Minister.

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Director Statement

This film is deeply personal to me. In 1982, my brother Rostam was executed at the age of 19 for being part of a student organization advocating democracy in Iran. His death became a lifelong call for justice for my family. My father always believed that if we couldn’t find justice within Iran, we had to let the world know the truth about what happened—not just to Rostam, but to thousands of others.

For over two decades, I have collaborated with Iraj Mesdaghi, a former political prisoner, to identify those responsible for the massacres of political prisoners in Iran. This journey has led us from Tokyo to Stockholm, where we played a key role in the arrest and trial of Hamid Noury, a member of the "Death Committee" responsible for these atrocities. The trial, unprecedented in its scope and significance, has captured international attention.

This documentary captures a historic moment: the pursuit of justice against the backdrop of a global fight for human rights. Through intimate interviews, courtroom footage, and cinematic reconstructions, I aim to bring the harrowing stories of survivors and the intricacies of this trial to audiences worldwide.

For me, this film is more than a chronicle of events; it’s a message to victims of oppression and to dictatorships alike: justice is inevitable. By documenting this trial, we hope to inspire future generations and remind the world that no regime can hide its crimes forever.