# Drowning in Holy Water (2020) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/drowning-in-holy-water-2020/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 74% |
| Critic Score | 84% |
| Audience Score | 78% |
| Metascore | 70/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.5/5 |
| IMDb | 6.9/10 |
| Director | Navid Mahmoudi |
| Genres | Drama |
| Runtime | 85 min |
| Festival premiere | MIFFest 2022 (Best Film) |

## Quick answer

Drowning in Holy Water (2020) earns a 74% Celluloid Score — Recommended. This Iran–Afghanistan drama won Best Film at MGGA 2022 — the headline prize of MIFFest’s Borderless edition. Metascore 70/100. Directed by Navid Mahmoudi.

## Critics consensus

This Iran–Afghanistan drama won Best Film at MGGA 2022 — the headline prize of MIFFest’s Borderless edition.

## Synopsis

Rona and Hamed are two young Afghans who are in love with each other. Searching for a better life, they have decided to immigrate to Europe but they have to make a big decision to make it happen, a decision that relates to their religion and beliefs.

## Cast

Ali Shadman, Neda Jebraeili, Matin Heydarnia, Sadaf Asgari, Sogol Khaligh, Alireza Ara, Amirreza Ranjbaran

## Accolades

Premiered at MIFFest 2022, where it won the Best Film.

## Where to watch

the United Kingdom: Prime Video

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Drowning in Holy Water worth watching?**
Drowning in Holy Water holds a 74% Celluloid Score. This Iran–Afghanistan drama won Best Film at MGGA 2022 — the headline prize of MIFFest’s Borderless edition.

**What is Drowning in Holy Water about?**
Rona and Hamed are two young Afghans who are in love with each other. Searching for a better life, they have decided to immigrate to Europe but they have to make a big decision to make it happen, a decision that relates to their religion and beliefs.

**Who directed Drowning in Holy Water?**
Drowning in Holy Water (2020) was directed by Navid Mahmoudi.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Drowning in Holy Water?**
74% — the average of five public sources: critics 84%, audience 78%, Metascore 70/100, Letterboxd 3.5/5, and IMDb 6.9/10.

**Where can I watch Drowning in Holy Water?**
Drowning in Holy Water is on Prime Video in the United Kingdom. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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