一群沒有家的窮人，別無選擇下住進一艘巨型廢船，漫無目的漂流海上，等待船長帶領他們往應許之地⋯⋯在這艘船上，船長的說話就是法律與真理，居民都必須對他言聽計從，沒有自由卻得暫時安穩。船長是先知，是領袖，也是出賣居民的獨裁者——他把廢船鐵塊分割、逐份賣錢，讓鐵船生活得以延續，也把他們唯一的家園蠶食淨盡。當浮城不能繼續航行，居民們還會追隨他嗎？導演以影像撰寫現代預言，以高超敘事手法，一針見血剖析現代伊朗之硬傷。

Fast-paced and unmistakably allegorical, Mohammad Rasoulof’s second feature saw tremendous improvement in the director’s command of film language and technique. Standing in for the nation of Iran, the “Iron Island” is a derelict oil tanker in the Persian Gulf populated by minority Sunni Arabs isolated from the masses ashore. Charismatic Captain Nemat (veteran actor Ali Nasirian) serves as the tanker’s self-appointed autocratic leader, who rules his floating fiefdom with benevolence, cunning and unwavering authority. A quarantined community like this inevitably breeds conflict and discontent, but as reality closes in, the Captain can only double down on his absolute power, the well-being of his people be damned.