Two & Two 2011

A strict, suited male teacher (Bijan Daneshmand) enters a dilapidated classroom filled with twelve students who are engaged in lively chatter. As soon as the students notice him, they immediately fall silent and stand at attention, demonstrating the authority he commands. The teacher glances at his watch before a voice from the intercom, presumably the headmaster, announces that the school is undergoing significant changes and instructs the students to listen carefully to their teacher’s directions.

The lesson begins with the teacher writing “2 + 2 = 5” on the chalkboard, a bold deviation from the truth that immediately sets the tone for the scene. When some students protest and suggest that the answer is actually four, the teacher quickly silences them, emphasizing discipline with a stern command to maintain order. He then insists that the class repeat the incorrect equation after him, symbolizing the control of information and truth within societal or political structures.

A timid student, Ravi Karimi, raises his hand cautiously and suggests that two plus two equals four, but he is sharply told, “Don’t think, you don’t have to think,” by the teacher, who reaffirms that the answer is five. The teacher then directs the students to copy the false equation into their notebooks, illustrating how authority manipulates facts and enforces conformity.

Another student, Pouyan Loti, boldly raises his voice, insisting that two plus two is four. The teacher reacts with anger, asking, “Who gave you permission to speak?” but the student stands firm, showing his determination by holding up his fingers for clarity. Despite repeated attempts by the teacher to force agreement, the student refuses to accept the false answer, exemplifying resistance to oppressive dogma.

The teacher then leaves the classroom, only to return with three older students, who are dressed in red armbands reminiscent of authoritarian youth movements like the Red Guard, symbolizing a militant, oppressive force. These senior students, who are Kourosh Shirazi, demonstrate unwavering unity as they confirm that “2 + 2 = 5”—their answer in perfect harmony. The teacher challenges the resistant student, presenting him with a piece of chalk and demanding he complete the equation.

When the student boldly writes “4”, the classroom atmosphere shifts dramatically. The teacher, clearly frustrated but maintaining a facade of control, gives one last warning that this is the student’s final chance. Suddenly, the senior students raise imaginary rifles, aiming at the boy in a display that imitates execution, heightening the tension and symbolizing threats and violence used to enforce ideological conformity.

After some hesitation, the student courageously writes “4” on the board. In a shocking, graphic moment, gunfire erupts—an act of violence that results in the boy’s lifeless body slumping to the ground as blood appears across the blackboard. The class falls into stunned silence, processing the brutal display of authority and punishment. The senior students then carry out the body, and the teacher continues the lesson, acting as if nothing unusual has occurred.

The scene underscores the oppressive power to control truth and suppress dissent. The teacher orders the students once again to write “2 + 2 = 5” and to recite it aloud, emphasizing conformity. Finally, one student quietly begins to alter the false statement, scratching out the ‘5’ and replacing it with a cautious “4”, subtly resisting the imposed falsehood.

This story vividly illustrates themes of authoritarianism, repression, and the struggle between truth and control, presenting a disturbing tableau of how power manipulates reality and silences individual resistance.