‘Midday Meal’ Review: Majid Majidi’s Gritty Drama on a Teacher’s Moral Compromises

In “Midday Meal,” veteran Iranian director Majid Majidi returns with a poignant drama that examines the ritual of food not merely as sustenance, but as a fundamental right in the absence of state support. Best known for his 1997 Oscar-nominated film “Children of Heaven,” Majidi crafts a narrative centered on the harsh realities faced by communities left without governmental care.

The story unfolds in the arid village of Goorankesh, where schoolteacher Davoud Soulan, portrayed by Mohammad Rahimi, fights to keep his institution alive. Although Soulan receives a salary from the ministry of education, he operates as a contractor relying heavily on private benefactors. When his primary sponsor passes away and the heir refuses to continue funding the school lunches, the entire educational program faces collapse. Soulan warns that without meals, students will cease attending, likely shutting the school within two weeks.

Soulan’s precarious position forces him into morally ambiguous territory. To survive, he resides in the school building to eliminate rent costs, redirecting those funds toward food, and secretly smuggles fuel to make ends meet. The film notes that such smuggling is a common practice in the region, even among children. However, Soulan’s desperation leads to increasingly questionable decisions, creating a complex tension between pragmatism and generosity.

Early signs of this moral friction include Soulan’s reluctance to accept students from neighboring villages and his anger when his mother feeds guests, fearing it will divert resources from the children. Rahimi delivers a restrained, naturalistic performance that highlights Soulan’s vulnerability and internal conflict, portraying a man capable of deception rather than a simplistic hero.

Majidi deliberately obscures Soulan’s long-term plans, deepening the character study as the teacher takes in a sick elderly man. At one point, Soulan justifies his small-scale fuel smuggling by comparing it to the profits made by larger barons, questioning whether the practical outcome should mitigate the crime. The film uses this sentiment to explore broader institutional failures, featuring encounters with law enforcement and education officials who are either dismissive or suspicious of Soulan’s efforts.

Despite the bleak atmosphere, “Midday Meal” offers moments of grace that prevent it from being entirely punitive. An inspector, initially stressed by the school’s condition, observes Soulan’s charity and offers assistance. Ultimately, Majidi avoids easy moral answers, presenting a frustrated yet hopeful look at a community struggling to survive against systemic neglect.