Rehearsals for a Revolution is a 2026 documentary from the Czech Republic and Spain. It combines history, politics, memoir, and archival filmmaking. The film is directed and narrated by Iranian actress and filmmaker Pegah Ahangarani. Its screenplay is credited to Ahangarani, Ehsan Abdipour, Amir Ahmadi Arian, Arash Ashtiani, and Majed Neisi.
The documentary follows five relatives and mentors connected to Ahangarani’s life. Their experiences represent different forms of resistance throughout modern Iranian history. The film uses family recordings, photographs, newspapers, audio tapes, protest footage, animation, and other archival material.
The story begins around the 1979 Iranian Revolution and continues through decades of political repression and unrest. It eventually reaches the 2026 conflict and Ahangarani’s experience of exile. The documentary is deeply personal while also examining the wider history of Iran.
Rehearsals for a Revolution is Ahangarani’s first feature documentary. It premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in Special Screenings. The film won the L’Œil d’or, Cannes’ award for Best Documentary.
Sony Pictures Classics is handling its North American distribution. The film has also screened internationally, including at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2026.
Rehearsals for a Revolution Age Rating
Rehearsals for a Revolution is officially rated PG-13 by the MPA for violent content including disturbing/bloody images, thematic material and brief strong language.
The PG-13 rating is important because this is not a conventional action documentary. Much of the disturbing material comes from real-world archival footage. The film documents protests, political crackdowns, injuries, deaths, war, and the consequences of state violence. Parents should also consider the film’s sustained political themes and emotionally heavy subject matter.
Violence & Peril
The violence is strong and disturbing in places, despite the PG-13 classification. The documentary contains authentic footage connected to protests, political repression, armed conflict, and violent crackdowns.
Some sequences show injured people, blood, frightened civilians, and the aftermath of violence. One particularly intense section examines the 2009 protests and includes raw footage of security forces attacking demonstrators. Critics have described this material as shocking and visceral.
The film also discusses executions, political imprisonment, deaths during war, and people disappearing because of political persecution. Some deaths are discussed rather than shown directly. However, the combination of real footage and personal testimony can make these moments emotionally powerful.
Younger viewers may find the footage more upsetting because it is presented as historical reality rather than fictional violence. Parents should be especially cautious with children who are sensitive to blood, shootings, crowds, or images of injured people.
Language
The film contains brief strong language, which is specifically mentioned in the official PG-13 rating.
Language is not the documentary’s main concern. Most of the dialogue consists of narration, interviews, historical recordings, and conversations about political events.
Parents should nevertheless expect occasional coarse language during emotionally intense moments. The film’s language content appears considerably less concerning than its violence and mature political themes.
Mature Themes
The mature themes are the biggest consideration for families. Rehearsals for a Revolution explores political oppression, imprisonment, executions, war, exile, grief, censorship, resistance, and the psychological consequences of living under authoritarian rule.
The documentary also deals with suicide and personal loss. One section explores the story of Ahangarani’s uncle Rashid and the painful circumstances surrounding his death. The film approaches these subjects seriously rather than sensationally.
The documentary includes references to political prisoners, people being killed by authorities, forced silence, and families affected by repression. It also examines the emotional burden carried across generations.
There is no indication that sexual content or nudity is a significant part of the film. Substance use is also not a central concern. Smoking or other incidental adult behavior should not be considered a primary reason for the PG-13 rating.
The strongest concern is therefore real-world violence combined with grief, political persecution, death, and disturbing historical imagery.
Is Rehearsals for a Revolution Suitable for Teens?
Ages 13–14: With Guidance. Younger teens may understand the historical subject but could struggle with the documentary’s graphic and emotionally intense material. Parents should consider watching with them and discussing the historical context.
Ages 15–17: Yes, With Guidance. Older teenagers are more likely to understand the political history and personal stories. However, the raw protest footage, deaths, injuries, and discussions of repression can still be upsetting.
Ages 18+: Yes. Adults should generally be able to engage with the documentary’s historical and political themes. The PG-13 rating reflects mature material without making the film adult-only viewing.
Final recommendation: Rehearsals for a Revolution is best suited to ages 15 and older, with parental guidance for younger teens. Sensitive viewers may prefer to wait until around 16 or 17 because of the real protest violence and disturbing imagery.
What Parents Can Do
- Explain the historical context first. Younger viewers may benefit from learning about the 1979 Iranian Revolution and later protest movements before watching.
- Prepare them for real footage. Explain that some violence comes from genuine historical recordings, not staged movie scenes.
- Discuss the film afterward. Talk about resistance, political freedom, exile, grief, and how major historical events can affect individual families.
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Rehearsals for a Revolution?
A: Rehearsals for a Revolution is rated PG-13 by the MPA for violent content including disturbing/bloody images, thematic material and brief strong language.
Q: Is Rehearsals for a Revolution suitable for kids?
A: It is not recommended for young children. The documentary contains disturbing real-world violence, blood, deaths, political repression, and emotionally difficult themes.
Q: Is Rehearsals for a Revolution suitable for teenagers?
A: Older teenagers can watch it with guidance. We recommend it primarily for ages 15+, particularly because of the raw protest footage and discussions of death and political persecution.
Q: Does Rehearsals for a Revolution contain scary or violent scenes?
A: Yes. The documentary includes disturbing archival footage of protests, crackdowns, injured people, blood, and the consequences of political violence. Some sequences can be intense because the footage documents real events.