1
Assistant Professor, Department of Comparative Religion and Mysticism, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran
2
M.A. Graduate in Religion and Mysticism, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran
This research deals with a multilayered analysis of the film "The Lizard" and examines its three main axes, namely social harms, moral themes, and the issue of religiousness, using the descriptive-analytical method and theories of sociology, moral philosophy, and theology. The analysis of social harms shows that the suffering of the characters, including Reza Moshqali's unsuccessful suicide, is caused by social structures; so that social status anxiety (based on de Botton's theory) acts as the main driver of the emergence of abnormalities. Also, the film critically addresses problems such as divorce and spousal abuse, attributing it to a sense of male authority and ignoring marital morality. On a moral level, the film emphasizes Buddha's teachings on "unfinished human suffering" and considers moral confrontation with this suffering as the path to liberation. This is contrasted with the use force and deception. The main and innovative focus of the analysis is critique of superficial and hypocritical religiosity. By showing dogma and intellectual rigidity, as well as the prevalence of religious appearances without a spiritual soul (religious idolatry), the film shows how religion can become a means of satisfying material needs or reinforcing prejudice. In religiosity is the embodiment of an individual, authentic, and non-exclusive spirituality that negates prejudice and domination and gives weight to the individual’s lived experience in the search for meaning. The article ultimately concludes that the film is not only a critique of religious/social structures, but also provides the possibility of reinterpreting the authentic religious experience in contemporary society.
nasiri,V and Ghaedi Bardehi,A . (2026). Criticism and Analysis of the Film "The Lizard" in Three Aspects; (Social, Moral, and Religious). (e247446). Practical Theology, (), e247446 doi: 10.22034/pt.2026.581392.1099
MLA
nasiri,V , and Ghaedi Bardehi,A . "Criticism and Analysis of the Film "The Lizard" in Three Aspects; (Social, Moral, and Religious)" .e247446 , Practical Theology, , , 2026, e247446. doi: 10.22034/pt.2026.581392.1099
HARVARD
nasiri V, Ghaedi Bardehi A. (2026). 'Criticism and Analysis of the Film "The Lizard" in Three Aspects; (Social, Moral, and Religious)', Practical Theology, (), e247446. doi: 10.22034/pt.2026.581392.1099
CHICAGO
V nasiri and A Ghaedi Bardehi, "Criticism and Analysis of the Film "The Lizard" in Three Aspects; (Social, Moral, and Religious)," Practical Theology, (2026): e247446, doi: 10.22034/pt.2026.581392.1099
VANCOUVER
nasiri V, Ghaedi Bardehi A. Criticism and Analysis of the Film "The Lizard" in Three Aspects; (Social, Moral, and Religious). Practical Theology. 2026;():e247446 (In Persian). doi: 10.22034/pt.2026.581392.1099