The seattle times - Award-winning film ‘Know Your Place’ captures a changing Seattle
Sometimes, film inspirations spring from outside forces; sometimes, they come from your heart. The writer/director of “Know Your Place,” the made-in-Seattle film that won the Golden Space Needle for best film at SIFF in 2022, said the impetus for writing his debut feature came, in part, from homesickness — from struggling with being far from the place he loved.
variety - Seattle International Film Festival Awards Top Honors to ‘Klondike,’ ‘Know Your Place’
“This drama is a deep dive into a Seattle subculture that has rarely if ever been shown before with such intimacy. Character-driven and of the moment, it takes us on an unexpected journey of discovery, and reminds us of the daily hardships of living on the margins in America.”
Punch drunk Critics - Review: Know Your Place
Know Your Place is an incredibly impressive film that captures the soul of a community that’s being left in the cracks due to “progress.” Robel and Fahmi… could easily have their own movie with their own stories as they exist in a lived-in world, full of community and love. The performances are outstanding, especially Joseph Smith and Natnael Mebrahtu, who were first-time actors in the film and pretty much carry the entire movie as they go on their journey.
indiewire - ‘Klondike,’ ‘Know Your Place’ Win Big at Seattle International Film FestivaL
The timely Ukrainian war drama “Klondike” from Maryna Er Gorbach won the Grand Jury Prize, with Zia Mohajerjasbi’s Seattle-set drama “Know Your Place” earning rave reviews from audiences and winning the festival’s New American Cinema Competition.
the moveable fest - Zia Mohajerjasbi’s Arresting “Know Your Place” Explores a City’s Limits - FILM REVIEW
“‘Know Your Place’ somehow manages to be in tune with both the soul of its lead character and the city it’s set in, even though they can seem at odds with each other and even with the ground shifting beneath Robel’s feet, it gives a lay of the land that is all but impossible not to see yourself in, as hard as it might be for those on screen.”
the stranger - THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF URBAN BEAUTY - FILM REVIEw
“In the pre-gentrification days, one did not need a tech job or large inheritance to access the darkling light of Seattle, its…big and leafy-thick trees, its glorious sunsets, and even the calming music of its rain. In this film, Mohajerjasbi presents something that is entirely new (if not revolutionary): a political economy of urban beauty.”
Crosscut - Seattle movie about loss and gentrification debuts at siff
This sense of change and loss throbs in the background of Know Your Place. But it’s first and foremost a story about Robel, a 15-year-old kid, and his family and community — and how they navigate the city and the changes and challenges of life.
FILM CARNAGE - REVIEW: KNOW YOUR PLACE
Know Your Place is a thoughtfully shot, subtle and captivating drama. It takes an unusual path to explore this family’s different struggles, bringing an understated but impactful tone rather than trying to be gritty or harsh. Joseph Smith leads the story with a strong performance, perfectly capturing the internalised stress and vulnerability. It has plenty to say in its story but in his debut feature Zia Mohajerjasbi’s direction also takes it a step further, enhancing the tone and atmosphere and deepening its layers.