When self-expression becomes illegal, how far will you go to preserve your identity? This is the question at the center of the filmmaker Hoj Jomehri’s short film, The Last Mullet. Inspired by true events, Jomehri tackles this political statement through a comedic lens, making a lighthearted jab at a forbidden hairstyle that has very real consequences.

Hair on the Run

In 2010, the mullet was banned in Iran. The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance had legal authority to make a spectacle of anyone who dared cross them by publicly chopping the mullets in the public square. Despite this, Shervin (Bobby Naderi) remains defiant in his choice to keep his luscious locks. Keeping his hair not only makes him an outlaw, but also a liability to his mother who harbors him in her home.

When we meet Shervin, he is actively evading the authorities. He runs across town with the finesse of Tom Cruise, mullet swaying in the wind. He finds temporary solace at his mother’s house, but it isn’t long before the police come knocking, looking for the “kid with the indecent hair”. Shervin finds himself cornered; stuck between standing up for his beliefs and caving to this ridiculous law. Holding a pair of scissors in his hand, he makes the difficult yet necessary choice.

The Delightful Middle Between Silly and Serious

For such an absurdly oppressive story, filmmaker Hoj Jomehri’s comedic infusions make The Last Mullet an unexpectedly fun watch. Bobby Naderi is perfectly cast as Shervin. His performance is strong, expertly toeing the line between silly and serious. The storytelling is delightfully fast-paced and cohesive. Jomehri, who also acts as the film’s editor, utilizes slow motion during the chase scene to amplify the situation’s dramatic and comedic elements.

Director’s Statement

“I’m an Iranian-American filmmaker whose family fled the Iranian regime in the 1980s and came to America. From that distance, I’ve long observed the tension between control and identity in Iran. When I read that in 2010 the regime banned so-called “Western hairstyles”—mullets, mohawks, ponytails—I was struck by the absurdity of it. The idea that a haircut could be criminalized felt both darkly comic and deeply revealing. What happens when something as personal as your hairstyle is no longer yours to choose?

So I wrote a fictional tale about a man whose mullet makes him an outlaw — a small but stubborn refusal in the face of control. The Last Mullet is ultimately about people maintaining their identity under pressure. At a moment when Iran is once again reduced to headlines, governments, and violence, The Last Mullet is a story about the people beyond those abstractions — ordinary people with humor, pride, hairstyles, and lives of their own.” – Hoj Jomehri, director

Takeaway

The Last Mullet is not only an entertaining work of historical importance. It also serves as a personal story about identity and the courage to remain yourself under pressure. The film recently had its World Premiere at the 2026 LA Shorts International Film Festival.