France TV Distribution has closed several territory deals for Sylvain Desclous’ “The Victoria System,” starring Damien Bonnard and Jeanne Balibar.
The film has been acquired by Spentzos in Greece, Divisa Red in Spain, Arna Media in the Cis, Nk Content in South Korea, Avjet in Taïwan and Mars in Turkey.
The film centers on David Kolski, who is overseeing the construction of the highest tower ever built in France. The developer’s constant pressure, crushing delivery delays, overworked employees… David lives in a hurry.
One night, while returning home for dinner, he meets a woman of astonishing beauty who captivates him. He is mesmerized. This woman is Victoria. Ambitious and intelligent, beautiful and independent, the human resources director for a multinational company, she runs her life as the ones of her employees, with an iron hand. Immediately, David also finds himself trapped in this fascinating system.
The film is written by Sylvain Desclous,...
The film has been acquired by Spentzos in Greece, Divisa Red in Spain, Arna Media in the Cis, Nk Content in South Korea, Avjet in Taïwan and Mars in Turkey.
The film centers on David Kolski, who is overseeing the construction of the highest tower ever built in France. The developer’s constant pressure, crushing delivery delays, overworked employees… David lives in a hurry.
One night, while returning home for dinner, he meets a woman of astonishing beauty who captivates him. He is mesmerized. This woman is Victoria. Ambitious and intelligent, beautiful and independent, the human resources director for a multinational company, she runs her life as the ones of her employees, with an iron hand. Immediately, David also finds himself trapped in this fascinating system.
The film is written by Sylvain Desclous,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here in a week where we have barely stopped. Plenty news and analysis below. Sign up here.
Les Misérables!
Fierce protests: The 2024 Cannes Film Festival opens in less than a fortnight and is once again set to be the backdrop to fierce French labor protests. Zac revealed earlier this week that a collection of around 200 French film festival workers — a combination of Cannes workers and workers from other festivals across France — are planning protests during the event over pay. The group’s frustrations are two-fold: they are first rallying against the pay packages they receive from their employers, which they say are inadequate and do not account for arduous overtime hours frequently clocked due to job demands, while the second bone of contention is France’s unique unemployment insurance program for entertainment workers and technicians. Known as Intermittence de Spectacle, the scheme supports entertainment workers on...
Les Misérables!
Fierce protests: The 2024 Cannes Film Festival opens in less than a fortnight and is once again set to be the backdrop to fierce French labor protests. Zac revealed earlier this week that a collection of around 200 French film festival workers — a combination of Cannes workers and workers from other festivals across France — are planning protests during the event over pay. The group’s frustrations are two-fold: they are first rallying against the pay packages they receive from their employers, which they say are inadequate and do not account for arduous overtime hours frequently clocked due to job demands, while the second bone of contention is France’s unique unemployment insurance program for entertainment workers and technicians. Known as Intermittence de Spectacle, the scheme supports entertainment workers on...
- 5/3/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: France tv distribution has acquired world sales rights for Romuald Boulanger’s upcoming bio-pic Mansour, capturing the journey of celebrity tennis player Mansour Bahrami’s from post-Revolutionary Iran, to exile and poverty in France, and then fame on the international circuit.
Iranian actor Amir Jadidi, who is best known internationally for his lead performance in Asghar Farhadi’s 2021 Cannes Grand Prix winner and Oscar-nominated drama A Hero, will play Bahrami.
Romuald Boulanger directs and produces under the banner of his Paris and L.A.-based company R-Lines Productions with UK-based Unconditional Pictures.
Unconditional Pictures’s co-founder and co-head Dawn McDaniel wrote the screenplay with Philippe de Lyon taking co-writing credits
Iran-born Bahrami, 68, is a popular figure on the international tennis tournament circuit for his entertaining playing style and extraordinary life story.
Born in Iran in the 1950s, he taught himself to play tennis...
Iranian actor Amir Jadidi, who is best known internationally for his lead performance in Asghar Farhadi’s 2021 Cannes Grand Prix winner and Oscar-nominated drama A Hero, will play Bahrami.
Romuald Boulanger directs and produces under the banner of his Paris and L.A.-based company R-Lines Productions with UK-based Unconditional Pictures.
Unconditional Pictures’s co-founder and co-head Dawn McDaniel wrote the screenplay with Philippe de Lyon taking co-writing credits
Iran-born Bahrami, 68, is a popular figure on the international tennis tournament circuit for his entertaining playing style and extraordinary life story.
Born in Iran in the 1950s, he taught himself to play tennis...
- 4/29/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
More than 40 of the group are women and 50 come from outside the US.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 397 artists and executives, half of them from outside the US, to join its ranks.
Among the 30 actors invited are recent Oscar winners Troy Kotsur, from Coda, and Ariana DeBose, from West Side Story, along with Caitríona Balfe, Jessie Buckley, Jamie Dornan, Amir Jadidi, Kajol, Vincent Lindon, Hidetoshi Nishijima and Renate Reinsve.
Twenty-one directors were invited, including Pawo Choyning Dorji (Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom), Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard), Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car), Sian Harries...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 397 artists and executives, half of them from outside the US, to join its ranks.
Among the 30 actors invited are recent Oscar winners Troy Kotsur, from Coda, and Ariana DeBose, from West Side Story, along with Caitríona Balfe, Jessie Buckley, Jamie Dornan, Amir Jadidi, Kajol, Vincent Lindon, Hidetoshi Nishijima and Renate Reinsve.
Twenty-one directors were invited, including Pawo Choyning Dorji (Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom), Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard), Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car), Sian Harries...
- 6/28/2022
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Tuesday that it is inviting 397 artists and executives to join the Oscar organizer’s membership ranks. The prospective 2022 class includes 71 Oscar nominees and 15 winners, with 44 of the invitees women, and 37 of the group belongs to underrepresented communities.
See the full list below.
Among this year’s Oscar winners on the list are Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur, and Kotsur’s Coda writer-director Siân Heder, who has been invited into both the Directors and Writers branches. Among those invited into multiple branches, the new member must pick one. There are a total of 17 AMPAS branches, along with 25 who today received members-at-large invitations.
Others on the list include this year’s Oscar Original Song winners Billie Eilish and brother Finneas O’Connell; actors Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Jesse Buckley, Michael Greyeyes, Olga Merediz, Jesse Plemons, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Anya Taylor-Joy; writers Zach Baylin,...
See the full list below.
Among this year’s Oscar winners on the list are Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur, and Kotsur’s Coda writer-director Siân Heder, who has been invited into both the Directors and Writers branches. Among those invited into multiple branches, the new member must pick one. There are a total of 17 AMPAS branches, along with 25 who today received members-at-large invitations.
Others on the list include this year’s Oscar Original Song winners Billie Eilish and brother Finneas O’Connell; actors Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Jesse Buckley, Michael Greyeyes, Olga Merediz, Jesse Plemons, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Anya Taylor-Joy; writers Zach Baylin,...
- 6/28/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Academy Invites 397 New Members, Including Billie Eilish, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jamie Dornan, Dana Walden
Anya Taylor-Joy, Billie Eilish, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan and Disney exec Dana Walden are among the 397 artists and executives invited to join the membership of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. If all of this year’s invitees accept membership, it will bring the total number of Academy members to 10,665, with 9,665 eligible to vote for the 95th Oscars set to take place on March 12, 2023.
The 2022 class is 44 women, 37 belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 50 are from 53 countries and territories outside the United States. There are 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners, among the invitees. Some of the big names invited are recent winners Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) and Troy Kotsur (“Coda”), and nominees Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”), Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”). Also invited are a slew of global artists and artisans such as actors Robin de Jesús, Olga Merediz...
The 2022 class is 44 women, 37 belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 50 are from 53 countries and territories outside the United States. There are 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners, among the invitees. Some of the big names invited are recent winners Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) and Troy Kotsur (“Coda”), and nominees Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”), Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”). Also invited are a slew of global artists and artisans such as actors Robin de Jesús, Olga Merediz...
- 6/28/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar winners Ariana DeBose, Troy Kotsur and Billie Eilish and nominees Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons are among the 397 film professionals invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy announced on Monday.
Invitations were also extended to actors Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Renate Rensve and Anya Taylor-Joy, directors Reinaldo Marcus Green, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Sian Heder and Jonas Poher Rasmussen, writers Zach Baylin, Takamasa Oe and Alex Ross Perry and film critic Leonard Maltin, who was invited to join as a member at large.
Four people were invited by two different branches, and must choose which branch they wish to join. Hamaguchi, Heder and Pawo Choyning Dorji were invited by both the Directors and Writers Branches, while Rasmussen was invited by the Directors Branch and the Documentary Branch.
Also Read:
Marlee Matlin, Jason Reitman and Jason Blum Elected to Oscars Academy...
Invitations were also extended to actors Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Renate Rensve and Anya Taylor-Joy, directors Reinaldo Marcus Green, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Sian Heder and Jonas Poher Rasmussen, writers Zach Baylin, Takamasa Oe and Alex Ross Perry and film critic Leonard Maltin, who was invited to join as a member at large.
Four people were invited by two different branches, and must choose which branch they wish to join. Hamaguchi, Heder and Pawo Choyning Dorji were invited by both the Directors and Writers Branches, while Rasmussen was invited by the Directors Branch and the Documentary Branch.
Also Read:
Marlee Matlin, Jason Reitman and Jason Blum Elected to Oscars Academy...
- 6/28/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 397 members of the global film community to join the organization, it was announced Tuesday.
Among those who will henceforth be able to vote for the Oscar nominations and winners if they accept, as the vast majority of people who have received invites historically have: newly-minted Oscar winners Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell (music branch) and Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur (actors); Paramount chief Brian Robbins and Disney general entertainment chief Dana Walden (executives); and film critic Leonard Maltin (members-at-large).
According to an Academy-provided breakdown of the new invitees, 44 percent are women, 37 percent are non-white and 50 percent are non-Americans (54 different countries are represented). If they all accept, the Academy’s overall membership will be 34 percent female, 19 percent non-white and 23 percent non-American.
Seven branches invited more women than men (actors, casting directors, costume designers, documentary,...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 397 members of the global film community to join the organization, it was announced Tuesday.
Among those who will henceforth be able to vote for the Oscar nominations and winners if they accept, as the vast majority of people who have received invites historically have: newly-minted Oscar winners Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell (music branch) and Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur (actors); Paramount chief Brian Robbins and Disney general entertainment chief Dana Walden (executives); and film critic Leonard Maltin (members-at-large).
According to an Academy-provided breakdown of the new invitees, 44 percent are women, 37 percent are non-white and 50 percent are non-Americans (54 different countries are represented). If they all accept, the Academy’s overall membership will be 34 percent female, 19 percent non-white and 23 percent non-American.
Seven branches invited more women than men (actors, casting directors, costume designers, documentary,...
- 6/28/2022
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Update with producer statement: A Hero producer Alexandre Mallet-Guy has released a statement following reports of a plagiarism judgement against Oscar-winning filmmaker Asghar Farhadi in Iran over the movie. The complaint was lodged by Azadeh Masihzadeh, a former student of Farhadi’s who accused the filmmaker of stealing the idea for A Hero from her documentary All Winners All Losers. In his statement (read it in full below), Mallet-Guy says “We firmly believe that the court will dismiss Ms Masihzadeh who cannot claim ownership on matters in the public domain.”
Previous: A guilty judgement in a plagiarism case against Oscar winning director Asghar Farhadi is not the final verdict of the court, the filmmaker’s lawyer has said. The case involves Farhadi’s A Hero, which won the Grand Prize in Cannes last year and was Iran’s submission for the International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.
A former student of Farhadi’s,...
Previous: A guilty judgement in a plagiarism case against Oscar winning director Asghar Farhadi is not the final verdict of the court, the filmmaker’s lawyer has said. The case involves Farhadi’s A Hero, which won the Grand Prize in Cannes last year and was Iran’s submission for the International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.
A former student of Farhadi’s,...
- 4/5/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Azadeh Masihzadeh, Asghar Farhadi’s former film student who accused the director of stealing the idea for his 2022 Oscar entry “A Hero” from the documentary she conceived in his class, has been found not guilty of defamation by the Iranian court. Farhadi brought the defamation suit against her after she claimed he stole material from her film “All Winners, All Losers,” which screened at an Iranian film festival in 2018. Still unresolved is the plagiarism suit Masihzadeh filed against Farhadi, which the court has yet to rule on.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, the Iranian court said there was “insufficient evidence” to support Farhadi’s claims that Masihzadeh sought to damage the two-time Academy Award–winning director’s reputation. Her acquittal in the defamation suit means she will not have to face up to a possible two-year prison sentence or, according to some speculation, possible corporal punishment.
If the court finds Farhadi guilty of plagiarism,...
Per The Hollywood Reporter, the Iranian court said there was “insufficient evidence” to support Farhadi’s claims that Masihzadeh sought to damage the two-time Academy Award–winning director’s reputation. Her acquittal in the defamation suit means she will not have to face up to a possible two-year prison sentence or, according to some speculation, possible corporal punishment.
If the court finds Farhadi guilty of plagiarism,...
- 4/4/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Asghar Farhadi, the two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker known as one of the leading voices of Iranian cinema, is now in the middle of a legal battle over allegedly plagiarizing the idea for his film “A Hero.”
“A Hero,” which won the Grand Prix at Cannes last year and was shortlisted for the 2022 International Feature Oscar, follows divorced father Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who is on leave from debtor’s prison. When he stumbles upon a bag of money that turns out to be worth less than he thought, he decides to return the money in hopes of rehabbing his public image as an ex-convict.
But according to The Hollywood Reporter, one of Farhadi’s former students, Azadeh Masihzadeh, is now suing Farhadi on the premise that he stole the concept from a documentary titled “All Winners, All Losers” that she made in his film class. Also suing the Academy Award–winning director...
“A Hero,” which won the Grand Prix at Cannes last year and was shortlisted for the 2022 International Feature Oscar, follows divorced father Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who is on leave from debtor’s prison. When he stumbles upon a bag of money that turns out to be worth less than he thought, he decides to return the money in hopes of rehabbing his public image as an ex-convict.
But according to The Hollywood Reporter, one of Farhadi’s former students, Azadeh Masihzadeh, is now suing Farhadi on the premise that he stole the concept from a documentary titled “All Winners, All Losers” that she made in his film class. Also suing the Academy Award–winning director...
- 3/23/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
A moral dilemma faces Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi’s protagonist in his latest film “A Hero.” Rahim, played by Amir Jadidi is on a two-day leave from debtors’ prison when his girlfriend Farkhondeh (Sahir Goldoust) finds a handbag filled with gold coins. Faced with a choice, the two opt to use it to pay off some of Rahim’s debt. In the end, they return the money to its owner.
Farhadi says the subject of charting how a person can ascend very fast and descend just as fast was fascinating to him. Cinematographer Ali Ghazi was present during the film’s rehearsals. In telling Farhadi’s story visually, the key was to not create a veil between the image and the audience.
Farhadi notes, “We didn’t want the camera to inform any judgment on the audience’s thoughts whether it was framing or lighting. We wanted to invite the audience to judge the characters,...
Farhadi says the subject of charting how a person can ascend very fast and descend just as fast was fascinating to him. Cinematographer Ali Ghazi was present during the film’s rehearsals. In telling Farhadi’s story visually, the key was to not create a veil between the image and the audience.
Farhadi notes, “We didn’t want the camera to inform any judgment on the audience’s thoughts whether it was framing or lighting. We wanted to invite the audience to judge the characters,...
- 1/31/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
“It has been a great experience,” admits Amir Jadidi, the star of “A Hero,” Iran’s shortlisted entry for Best International Feature at the 2022 Oscars. “I’m so glad that the whole world connected to this film. I hope that this continues and that the movie gets seen everywhere. I feel that the movie has a very nice message and people can get something out of it.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.
In the Amazon film, Jadidi plays Rahim, a man imprisoned because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don’t go as planned. The film was written and directed by Asghar Farhadi, who represented Iran with two Best International Feature Oscar winners before: “A Separation” (2011) and “The Salesman” (2011).
See: Asghar Farhadi on...
In the Amazon film, Jadidi plays Rahim, a man imprisoned because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don’t go as planned. The film was written and directed by Asghar Farhadi, who represented Iran with two Best International Feature Oscar winners before: “A Separation” (2011) and “The Salesman” (2011).
See: Asghar Farhadi on...
- 1/28/2022
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Iranian actor Amir Jadidi, the breakout star of Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar-shortlisted “A Hero,” is no novice to the big screen. He previously appeared in more than a dozen films in Iran, where he also has a parallel career as a professional tennis player.
Jadidi worked closely with the director on his character Rahim, who, while on furlough after being imprisoned for debt, returns a lost handbag full of gold coins. But his action sparks other actions that create turmoil. “A Hero” gives Farhadi a shot at his third international Oscar, and Jadidi plans to travel to the U.S. to support the film. The actor spoke to Variety about the film.
How did you find out about the role?
I got a call from Mr. Farhadi’s office and they asked to set up a meeting. At the time that I got the call, I had been shooting another movie and,...
Jadidi worked closely with the director on his character Rahim, who, while on furlough after being imprisoned for debt, returns a lost handbag full of gold coins. But his action sparks other actions that create turmoil. “A Hero” gives Farhadi a shot at his third international Oscar, and Jadidi plans to travel to the U.S. to support the film. The actor spoke to Variety about the film.
How did you find out about the role?
I got a call from Mr. Farhadi’s office and they asked to set up a meeting. At the time that I got the call, I had been shooting another movie and,...
- 1/27/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The film by Asghar Farhadi is a rare example of capturing how social media influences our postures offline, while barely engaging with the internet itself
A Hero, a tense, mazy drama from the Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi, centers on a figure familiar to anyone who’s attuned to the ebbs and flows of internet celebrity: the social media Main Character, the subject of an internet backlash. Rahim, is a man imprisoned for debts in the desert city of Shiraz, who becomes a local hero for an act of charity of ambiguous motivation. His girlfriend, Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldoust), found 17 gold coins who she says were left in a purse at a bus stop, but instead of paying toward his freedom, Rahim contacts a bank and arranges a return to their owner. Within days, on furlough from jail, he’s the feelgood story of the moment.
I’ve written before about how...
A Hero, a tense, mazy drama from the Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi, centers on a figure familiar to anyone who’s attuned to the ebbs and flows of internet celebrity: the social media Main Character, the subject of an internet backlash. Rahim, is a man imprisoned for debts in the desert city of Shiraz, who becomes a local hero for an act of charity of ambiguous motivation. His girlfriend, Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldoust), found 17 gold coins who she says were left in a purse at a bus stop, but instead of paying toward his freedom, Rahim contacts a bank and arranges a return to their owner. Within days, on furlough from jail, he’s the feelgood story of the moment.
I’ve written before about how...
- 1/27/2022
- by Adrian Horton
- The Guardian - Film News
Editors note: Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series debuts and celebrates the scripts of films that will be factors in this year’s movie awards race.
For Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi, A Hero was the culmination of a long rumination on a recurring phenomenon he’d noticed being reported in his nation’s media.
“I had been reading stories like this in the press for some time,” Farhadi says of the genesis of his film’s tale, which centers on Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a man imprisoned for unpaid debts who, during a brief furlough, returns a newly discovered handbag filled with gold coins to its rightful owner rather than use the loot to replay his delinquent accounts. It’s a good deed that nevertheless deeply complicates Rahim’s situation.
“[I had seen stories] of ordinary individuals, who briefly made newspaper headlines because of an altruistic act,” Farhadi says. “These stories often had common peculiarities.
For Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi, A Hero was the culmination of a long rumination on a recurring phenomenon he’d noticed being reported in his nation’s media.
“I had been reading stories like this in the press for some time,” Farhadi says of the genesis of his film’s tale, which centers on Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a man imprisoned for unpaid debts who, during a brief furlough, returns a newly discovered handbag filled with gold coins to its rightful owner rather than use the loot to replay his delinquent accounts. It’s a good deed that nevertheless deeply complicates Rahim’s situation.
“[I had seen stories] of ordinary individuals, who briefly made newspaper headlines because of an altruistic act,” Farhadi says. “These stories often had common peculiarities.
- 1/26/2022
- by Scott Huver
- Deadline Film + TV
In a new series called “My Journey to the Oscars,” Variety catches up with the directors of the films shortlisted for the International Feature Oscar to discuss their road to the awards, what they’ve learned so far, and what’s taken them off guard.
Asghar Farhadi, a two-time international Oscar winner for “A Separation” and “The Salesman,” is in the running for a third time with “A Hero,” which marks the Iranian auteur’s return to shooting in his country.
It’s a drama about a man named Rahim (Amir Jadidi) who, while on furlough after being imprisoned for debt, returns a lost handbag full of gold coins. This apparently heroic act spirals out of control due to social media, which plays an important part in the pic as it exposes the pitfalls of media manipulation in Iran but also, by extension, the world.
Congratulations! What does it mean...
Asghar Farhadi, a two-time international Oscar winner for “A Separation” and “The Salesman,” is in the running for a third time with “A Hero,” which marks the Iranian auteur’s return to shooting in his country.
It’s a drama about a man named Rahim (Amir Jadidi) who, while on furlough after being imprisoned for debt, returns a lost handbag full of gold coins. This apparently heroic act spirals out of control due to social media, which plays an important part in the pic as it exposes the pitfalls of media manipulation in Iran but also, by extension, the world.
Congratulations! What does it mean...
- 1/26/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Mexico’s Oscar-shortlisted Prayers For the Stolen directed by Tatiana Huezo won the Fipresci Prize for Best International Feature Film at the Palm Springs Film Festival, which revealed its juried winners Wednesday despite being forced to cancel its 2022 edition.
The festival, which had been scheduled to run January 6-17 before being scrapped amid the latest Covid surge, is considered a must-stop for International Feature Oscar contenders, with 36 of the 93 official submissions this year slated for the lineup.
The Fipresci jury also awarded Asghar Farhadi’s Iranian Oscar hopeful A Hero two prizes, for Farhadi’s screenplay and best actor for Amir Jadidi. It won three prizes overall, also taking a Mozaik Bridging the Borders Award.
Agathe Roussell, the star of France’s Palme d’Or winner Titane, was named best actress by Fipresci jurors.
Huezo’s Prayers for the Stolen, which was released by Netflix in theaters and on the streaming platform in November,...
The festival, which had been scheduled to run January 6-17 before being scrapped amid the latest Covid surge, is considered a must-stop for International Feature Oscar contenders, with 36 of the 93 official submissions this year slated for the lineup.
The Fipresci jury also awarded Asghar Farhadi’s Iranian Oscar hopeful A Hero two prizes, for Farhadi’s screenplay and best actor for Amir Jadidi. It won three prizes overall, also taking a Mozaik Bridging the Borders Award.
Agathe Roussell, the star of France’s Palme d’Or winner Titane, was named best actress by Fipresci jurors.
Huezo’s Prayers for the Stolen, which was released by Netflix in theaters and on the streaming platform in November,...
- 1/19/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on January 6th, 2022, reviewing a new film from Iranian director Asghar Farhadi “A Hero,” in theaters on January 7th and Amazon Prime Video on January 21st.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
Iranian writer/director Asghar Farhadi (“A Separation” and “The Salesman”) creates empathetic insight into life in Iran. “A Hero” furthers this empathy as a man named Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who is on a sabbatical from debtors prison, gets involved in a found purse with gold coins in it. At first he wants cash for the bounty, but becomes guilty and posts signs around the neighborhood, and a grateful woman claims it. Word gets out, and Rahim is touted as a hero, but the circumstances of the find and the disappearance of the purse’s claimant cause problems with his heroism.
“A Hero” is currently in theaters beginning January 7th,...
Rating: 3.0/5.0
Iranian writer/director Asghar Farhadi (“A Separation” and “The Salesman”) creates empathetic insight into life in Iran. “A Hero” furthers this empathy as a man named Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who is on a sabbatical from debtors prison, gets involved in a found purse with gold coins in it. At first he wants cash for the bounty, but becomes guilty and posts signs around the neighborhood, and a grateful woman claims it. Word gets out, and Rahim is touted as a hero, but the circumstances of the find and the disappearance of the purse’s claimant cause problems with his heroism.
“A Hero” is currently in theaters beginning January 7th,...
- 1/9/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi hits home once more with this complex tale of a debtor who tries to make good
Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is on two-day leave from debtors’ prison when his girlfriend, Farkhondeh (Sahir Goldoust), chances upon a pile of gold. Sure, it’s in a handbag that doesn’t belong to her, but has been abandoned at a bus stop, so she decides the coins are fair game. The pair plan to pawn them and pay off some of Rahim’s debt, but ultimately decide to return the money to its owner. Yet in this wry moral drama from the Oscar-winning Iranian film-maker Asghar Farhadi, no good deed goes unpunished.
Rahim’s simple act becomes the talk of the town; much like a tweet gone viral, it’s quickly taken out of context. Gossip spreads through the city of Shiraz, warping his story into a feat of...
Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is on two-day leave from debtors’ prison when his girlfriend, Farkhondeh (Sahir Goldoust), chances upon a pile of gold. Sure, it’s in a handbag that doesn’t belong to her, but has been abandoned at a bus stop, so she decides the coins are fair game. The pair plan to pawn them and pay off some of Rahim’s debt, but ultimately decide to return the money to its owner. Yet in this wry moral drama from the Oscar-winning Iranian film-maker Asghar Farhadi, no good deed goes unpunished.
Rahim’s simple act becomes the talk of the town; much like a tweet gone viral, it’s quickly taken out of context. Gossip spreads through the city of Shiraz, warping his story into a feat of...
- 1/9/2022
- by Simran Hans
- The Guardian - Film News
Amir Jadidi as Rahmin and Saleh Karimai as his son Siavash, in Asghar Farhadi’s Iranian drama/thriller A Hero. Photo credit: Amirhossein Shojaei. Courtesy of Amazon Studios.
Debtor’s prison brings Charles Dickens to mind for most of us but this Dickensian nightmare appears to be alive in Iran – or at least prison for debt. In A Hero, two-time Oscar winning writer/director Asghar Farhadi’s latest drama/thriller, a man imprisoned for debt gets a two-day pass during which he hopes to work out a deal with his creditor. Things do not go as planned but Farhadi takes us on a twisty path and, at one point, it does look like the imprisoned debtor might become a hero.
A Hero is Iran’s official submission for the Oscars and won the Grand Prix award at Cannes last year, as well as being on several critics’ Top Ten lists.
Debtor’s prison brings Charles Dickens to mind for most of us but this Dickensian nightmare appears to be alive in Iran – or at least prison for debt. In A Hero, two-time Oscar winning writer/director Asghar Farhadi’s latest drama/thriller, a man imprisoned for debt gets a two-day pass during which he hopes to work out a deal with his creditor. Things do not go as planned but Farhadi takes us on a twisty path and, at one point, it does look like the imprisoned debtor might become a hero.
A Hero is Iran’s official submission for the Oscars and won the Grand Prix award at Cannes last year, as well as being on several critics’ Top Ten lists.
- 1/7/2022
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
This review of “A Hero” was first published after the film’s July 2021 premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Twice an Oscar winner, for “A Separation” and “The Salesman,” Iranian director Asghar Farhadi may be a contender again for his latest film, “A Hero,” which premiered last July in the Cannes competition.
Indeed, the film’s plot and premise turning on that filmic staple of a bag of treasure — in this case, 17 gold coins found in a handbag at a bus stop in the city of Shiraz.
The coins come into the possession of a man, Rahim Soltani (Amir Jadidi), who is out on a few days release from debtor’s prison. He sees the money as a sure-fire way of paying off his debts, getting out of jail and beginning a new life with his girlfriend Farkondeh, in whose custody to coins appear to be.
However, when the pair excitedly visit a gold dealer,...
Twice an Oscar winner, for “A Separation” and “The Salesman,” Iranian director Asghar Farhadi may be a contender again for his latest film, “A Hero,” which premiered last July in the Cannes competition.
Indeed, the film’s plot and premise turning on that filmic staple of a bag of treasure — in this case, 17 gold coins found in a handbag at a bus stop in the city of Shiraz.
The coins come into the possession of a man, Rahim Soltani (Amir Jadidi), who is out on a few days release from debtor’s prison. He sees the money as a sure-fire way of paying off his debts, getting out of jail and beginning a new life with his girlfriend Farkondeh, in whose custody to coins appear to be.
However, when the pair excitedly visit a gold dealer,...
- 1/5/2022
- by Jason Solomons
- The Wrap
With films in languages other than English finally breaking out of their limiting, designated category at the Academy Awards in the last few years, it’s outrageous that actors in those stories rarely obtain similar recognition.
Despite “Parasite” winning multiple Oscars, including Best Picture, the cast was left out of the acting categories — even lead Song Kang-ho, whose performance is pivotal to the film’s success. Last year, Danish star Mads Mikkelsen was also overlooked, while “Another Round” won the award for Best International Feature Film and Thomas Vinterberg was nominated for Best Director. This season, several stars from abroad could enrich the lineup of contenders.
Another glaring oversight is that none of the riveting performances in Iranian master Asghar Farhadi’s two Oscar-winning films, “A Separation” and “The Salesman,” received accolades stateside. Yet there’s a chance for redemption this year with his latest drama, “A Hero,” which features...
Despite “Parasite” winning multiple Oscars, including Best Picture, the cast was left out of the acting categories — even lead Song Kang-ho, whose performance is pivotal to the film’s success. Last year, Danish star Mads Mikkelsen was also overlooked, while “Another Round” won the award for Best International Feature Film and Thomas Vinterberg was nominated for Best Director. This season, several stars from abroad could enrich the lineup of contenders.
Another glaring oversight is that none of the riveting performances in Iranian master Asghar Farhadi’s two Oscar-winning films, “A Separation” and “The Salesman,” received accolades stateside. Yet there’s a chance for redemption this year with his latest drama, “A Hero,” which features...
- 1/5/2022
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
After the rush of holiday specials and prestige movies that define December, January entertainment can often feel like a bit of a letdown. That it’s traditionally been a dumping ground for iffy-looking movies and a bit of a dead zone for new TV shows hasn’t helped its reputation.
But release patterns have changed drastically over the past few years (and even more drastically during the pandemic). Even in the worst of years there’s always something worth seeking out, and this doesn’t look like a bad year...
But release patterns have changed drastically over the past few years (and even more drastically during the pandemic). Even in the worst of years there’s always something worth seeking out, and this doesn’t look like a bad year...
- 12/27/2021
- by Keith Phipps
- Rollingstone.com
Iran’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards, “A Hero,” tells the story of Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a man who was imprisoned for a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave from prison he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw the complaint against him, but things don’t go as planned. Asghar Farhadi wrote and directed the film and says he is honored to be selected to represent Iran for the third time because it will allow for a larger audience to see his work. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Farhadi has been selected to represent Iran twice before with “A Separation” (2011) and “The Salesman” (2016). Both films went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (now called Best International Feature). Earlier this year the National Board of Review awarded Farhadi for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay for “A Hero.
Farhadi has been selected to represent Iran twice before with “A Separation” (2011) and “The Salesman” (2016). Both films went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (now called Best International Feature). Earlier this year the National Board of Review awarded Farhadi for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay for “A Hero.
- 12/17/2021
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Asghar Farhadi, the Iranian filmmaker with two Best International Film Oscars to his name, has returned with another naturalistic immersion in his homeland: A Hero.
The title of the Amazon Studios release, which won the Grand Prix in Cannes, promises feats of courage and bravery. While there are some of those along the way, the protagonist is also deeply flawed and his circuitous path to redemption challenges the audience’s traditional definitions.
“When people hear the title, they’re looking for a heroic film,” Farhadi said during a virtual panel session at Contenders Film: New York. “But when they see it, they are facing a common man who doesn’t have that much of a heroic side to him. There is a paradox in this title.”
Amir Jadidi plays Rahim, the main character, a divorced father on a two-day leave from debtors’ prison. When he returns a purse containing gold coins,...
The title of the Amazon Studios release, which won the Grand Prix in Cannes, promises feats of courage and bravery. While there are some of those along the way, the protagonist is also deeply flawed and his circuitous path to redemption challenges the audience’s traditional definitions.
“When people hear the title, they’re looking for a heroic film,” Farhadi said during a virtual panel session at Contenders Film: New York. “But when they see it, they are facing a common man who doesn’t have that much of a heroic side to him. There is a paradox in this title.”
Amir Jadidi plays Rahim, the main character, a divorced father on a two-day leave from debtors’ prison. When he returns a purse containing gold coins,...
- 12/4/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies from film awards editor Clayton Davis. Following history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar and Emmy predictions are updated regularly with the current year's list of contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. The eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and is subject to change.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Oscars Collective
Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Oscars Hub
Revisit the prediction archive of the 2021 season The Archive
Link to television awards is atTHE Emmys Hub
2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards Predictions:
Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role
Updated: Nov 25, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: More to come…...
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Oscars Collective
Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Oscars Hub
Revisit the prediction archive of the 2021 season The Archive
Link to television awards is atTHE Emmys Hub
2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards Predictions:
Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role
Updated: Nov 25, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: More to come…...
- 11/25/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
A Hero was the big winner at the 21st Hafez Awards, Iran’s primary national screen awards ceremony. Scroll down for the full list of winners across film and TV.
The latest film from Asghar Farhadi took home Best Motion Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay (both for Farhadi), Best Actor for Amir Jadidi (who shared the prize with Peyman Maadi of Walnut Tree), and Best Editor (Hayedeh Safiyari).
A Hero is Iran’s Oscar entry this year, with Farhadi having scooped the Academy prize on two previous occasions for The Salesman and A Separation.
Further winners at this year’s Hafez Awards included Pardis Ahmadieh for Toman and Susan Parvar for Botox, who shared the Best Actress prize, and Morteza Najafi who won Best Cinematography for Toman. Producer and actor Ali Sartipi was presented with a Special Individual Achievement prize while Bahman and Bahram Ark’s Skin was given the Abbas Kiarostami Memorial Medal.
The latest film from Asghar Farhadi took home Best Motion Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay (both for Farhadi), Best Actor for Amir Jadidi (who shared the prize with Peyman Maadi of Walnut Tree), and Best Editor (Hayedeh Safiyari).
A Hero is Iran’s Oscar entry this year, with Farhadi having scooped the Academy prize on two previous occasions for The Salesman and A Separation.
Further winners at this year’s Hafez Awards included Pardis Ahmadieh for Toman and Susan Parvar for Botox, who shared the Best Actress prize, and Morteza Najafi who won Best Cinematography for Toman. Producer and actor Ali Sartipi was presented with a Special Individual Achievement prize while Bahman and Bahram Ark’s Skin was given the Abbas Kiarostami Memorial Medal.
- 11/23/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi has represented his country in the International Oscar race an impressive five times, winning the coveted prize on two occasions (for The Salesman and A Separation).
His latest feature, the social drama A Hero, is once again a hotly tipped contender for this year’s race. The film, which debuted in Competition at Cannes and won the Jury Grand Prize, stars Amir Jadidi as a man in prison because of a debt he is unable to pay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum, but things don’t go as planned.
Central to the feature is the performance of Jadidi. During the Amazon Studios panel at Deadline’s Contenders Film: International, Farhadi explains that he didn’t always intend to use a professional actor in the lead role.
“When I started...
His latest feature, the social drama A Hero, is once again a hotly tipped contender for this year’s race. The film, which debuted in Competition at Cannes and won the Jury Grand Prize, stars Amir Jadidi as a man in prison because of a debt he is unable to pay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum, but things don’t go as planned.
Central to the feature is the performance of Jadidi. During the Amazon Studios panel at Deadline’s Contenders Film: International, Farhadi explains that he didn’t always intend to use a professional actor in the lead role.
“When I started...
- 11/20/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi revealed that a long gestation period in his head and a subsequent copious amount of real-world rehearsal time allowed him to shape A Hero into the critically hailed film that it’s become.
Speaking through a translator at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles awards-season event Sunday, Farhadi explained that the germ of the notion for the film – which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in July – first took root in his mind when he was a college student. He saw a British play put on by students, which sparked his interest in local stories about altruistic strangers who become celebrated for kindnesses like returning lost items by tracking down their owners. “They very soon become like a regional hero,” he said.
Farhadi said the notion that “societies makes heroes was in my head all the time.” Still, “at that time I never thought,...
Speaking through a translator at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles awards-season event Sunday, Farhadi explained that the germ of the notion for the film – which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in July – first took root in his mind when he was a college student. He saw a British play put on by students, which sparked his interest in local stories about altruistic strangers who become celebrated for kindnesses like returning lost items by tracking down their owners. “They very soon become like a regional hero,” he said.
Farhadi said the notion that “societies makes heroes was in my head all the time.” Still, “at that time I never thought,...
- 11/14/2021
- by Scott Huver
- Deadline Film + TV
Asghar Farhadi has directed two Oscar-winning movies — and Amazon Studios hopes to make it three with “A Hero,” the acclaimed filmmaker’s latest drama and Iran’s official selection for Best International Feature at the 2022 Oscars.
Set to arrive in theaters on January 7, 2022, before hitting Amazon Prime Video on January 21, 2022, Farhadi’s latest focuses on Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a young man in jail because of unpaid debt who, during a brief leave from prison, comes into possession of a bag of gold coins. Rather than keep the gold, however, Rahim returns the bag and becomes a local hero — only for his fame to quickly reveal other complications.
“We don’t let people do wrong anymore,” Farhadi said to The Hollywood Reporter in September. “What was interesting to me is that some ordinary people would do some humanitarian thing in their life at some moment, and people wanted that person to...
Set to arrive in theaters on January 7, 2022, before hitting Amazon Prime Video on January 21, 2022, Farhadi’s latest focuses on Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a young man in jail because of unpaid debt who, during a brief leave from prison, comes into possession of a bag of gold coins. Rather than keep the gold, however, Rahim returns the bag and becomes a local hero — only for his fame to quickly reveal other complications.
“We don’t let people do wrong anymore,” Farhadi said to The Hollywood Reporter in September. “What was interesting to me is that some ordinary people would do some humanitarian thing in their life at some moment, and people wanted that person to...
- 11/3/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
"It's the talk of the neighborhood. People called to say you make them proud." Amazon has unveiled a new US trailer for the outstanding new film from Oscar-nominated Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, best known for A Separation, The Past, The Salesman, and Everybody Knows. His latest is titled A Hero, and it first premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it won the Grand Prix prize during the festival. Rahim is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don't go as planned. When he returns a woman's purse full of coins, he is hailed as a hero, but the complexities of society and old grudges come back to ruin his newfound fame. Amir Jadidi stars as Rahim in one...
- 10/28/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
While his post-a Separation career has received quite a wide range of responses, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi triumphantly returned to Cannes Film Festival this summer with A Hero, which went on to win the Grand Pix. The film follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay, as he tries to convince his creditor (Mohsen Tanabandeh) during a two-day leave to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. Set to arrive in theaters on January 7 followed by an Amazon Prime bow two weeks later, the first trailer for Iran’s Oscar entry has now arrived.
Rory O’Connor said in his Cannes review, “In A Hero, the discovery of a bag of gold coins sets the scene for a knotted Bressonian morality tale. The director is Asghar Farhadi, a filmmaker who has spent his career examining those blurred lines...
Rory O’Connor said in his Cannes review, “In A Hero, the discovery of a bag of gold coins sets the scene for a knotted Bressonian morality tale. The director is Asghar Farhadi, a filmmaker who has spent his career examining those blurred lines...
- 10/28/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Iran has chosen Asghar Farhadi’s A Hero as its entry for this year’s International Oscar category.
Farhadi is a two-time Oscar winner for A Separation and The Salesman. This is the fifth time he has represented Iran in the race, making him the joint most submitted director from the country with Majid Majidi.
A Hero debuted at Cannes to strong reviews and won the festival’s Grand Prix prize in its main competition. The film stars Amir Jadidi as a man who is in prison because of a debt he is unable to pay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum, but things don’t go as planned.
Memento International is handling international sales and Memento Production is producing, with Amazon Studios previously picking up U.S. rights in a deal with UTA & Memento.
Farhadi is a two-time Oscar winner for A Separation and The Salesman. This is the fifth time he has represented Iran in the race, making him the joint most submitted director from the country with Majid Majidi.
A Hero debuted at Cannes to strong reviews and won the festival’s Grand Prix prize in its main competition. The film stars Amir Jadidi as a man who is in prison because of a debt he is unable to pay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum, but things don’t go as planned.
Memento International is handling international sales and Memento Production is producing, with Amazon Studios previously picking up U.S. rights in a deal with UTA & Memento.
- 10/21/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Nominations in the 14th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) were revealed today with nods for 38 films from 25 Asia Pacific countries and regions. Winners will be announced on Thursday, November 11, at the 14th Apsa Ceremony on the Australia Gold Coast. Nominations include Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car, which won the best screenplay award at Cannes, Asghar Farhadi’s Cannes Grand Prix winning, film A Hero, and the TIFF Platform award winning film Yuni directed by Kamila Andini.
Apsa celebrates cinema from over 70 countries, with an enhanced focus on content that reflects the region’s diversity.
Below is the full list of nominees.
Best Feature Film
A Hero (Ghahreman)
Directed by Asghar Farhadi
A Night of Knowing Nothing
Directed by Payal Kapadia
Drive My Car
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
The Pencil (Prostoy karandash)
Directed by Natalya Nazarova
There is No Evil (Sheytan vojud nadarad)
Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof
Best Youth Feature...
Apsa celebrates cinema from over 70 countries, with an enhanced focus on content that reflects the region’s diversity.
Below is the full list of nominees.
Best Feature Film
A Hero (Ghahreman)
Directed by Asghar Farhadi
A Night of Knowing Nothing
Directed by Payal Kapadia
Drive My Car
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
The Pencil (Prostoy karandash)
Directed by Natalya Nazarova
There is No Evil (Sheytan vojud nadarad)
Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof
Best Youth Feature...
- 10/13/2021
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Winners will be announced on November 11.
Cannes winners Drive My Car, directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and Asghar Farhadi’s A Hero lead the nominations at the Asia Pacific Screen Academy (Apsa) awards.
Drive My Car is Japan’s entry for the best international feature Oscar and the Cannes 2021 Competition best screenplay winner. It follows a theatre actor and director who is grappling with grief for his lost wife.
A Hero, which won the grand prix at Cannes, is a French-Iranian co-production which looks at what happens when an unlikely hero finds himself caught up in a social media storm.
Both...
Cannes winners Drive My Car, directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and Asghar Farhadi’s A Hero lead the nominations at the Asia Pacific Screen Academy (Apsa) awards.
Drive My Car is Japan’s entry for the best international feature Oscar and the Cannes 2021 Competition best screenplay winner. It follows a theatre actor and director who is grappling with grief for his lost wife.
A Hero, which won the grand prix at Cannes, is a French-Iranian co-production which looks at what happens when an unlikely hero finds himself caught up in a social media storm.
Both...
- 10/13/2021
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
When writer-director Asghar Farhadi (A Separation) set out to tell the story behind his new film A Hero, he had the idea of looking at the steep up-and-down trajectory of a man’s life caused by one supposedly small action. It received a five-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival premiere and won the Grand Prize.
Set in Iran, the story follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a man imprisoned for debt. On a two-day leave from jail, Rahim tries to make a deal with his debtor to pay back part of what he owes when his girlfriend finds a handbag filled with gold coins. But things do not go according to plan. After initially receiving much acclaim for returning the lost coins, Rahim’s life takes a serious downturn.
“When I started working on the script, which actually took a long time—I started two years ago—lots of ideas came to my mind,...
Set in Iran, the story follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a man imprisoned for debt. On a two-day leave from jail, Rahim tries to make a deal with his debtor to pay back part of what he owes when his girlfriend finds a handbag filled with gold coins. But things do not go according to plan. After initially receiving much acclaim for returning the lost coins, Rahim’s life takes a serious downturn.
“When I started working on the script, which actually took a long time—I started two years ago—lots of ideas came to my mind,...
- 10/9/2021
- by Antonia Blyth
- Deadline Film + TV
Presented by the California Film Institute, the 44th Mill Valley Film Festival runs October 7-17, 2021. The Mvff is an acclaimed eleven-day cinema event celebrating the best in American independent and world cinema. Located just north of San Francisco, it’s known as a filmmakers’ festival, and the West Coast launch pad for many Academy Award®-winning films, annually showcasing 200+ films from over 50 countries. The Mvff creates a community that celebrates the best in international film as well as Tributes and Spotlights with major film talents. Below, we’ve got the whole roster of their Asian / Asian American film slate.
Features
Anima (Mo Er Dao Ga) A tale of tested fraternal bonds and ecological catastrophe shot on location in Mongolia’s national parklands, writer-director Cao Jinling’s gorgeous, thrilling drama forces viewers to ask themselves: What happens when we disrupt the harmony of our world? And how can we restore the balance?...
Features
Anima (Mo Er Dao Ga) A tale of tested fraternal bonds and ecological catastrophe shot on location in Mongolia’s national parklands, writer-director Cao Jinling’s gorgeous, thrilling drama forces viewers to ask themselves: What happens when we disrupt the harmony of our world? And how can we restore the balance?...
- 9/13/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Anglo-American titles took up much of the buzz at Telluride this year, with the exception of one title: Asghar Farhadi’s “A Hero” (2021). Farhadi — known mostly for his Oscar-winning film “A Separation” (2011) — came back to the circuit to reap more awards. This Iranian Palme d’Or nominee triumphantly won the Grand Prix and the Francois Chalais Award at Cannes. Loaded with a beautifully subtle storyline and an irresistible cast of characters, this film is sure to see more accolades throughout the rest of the fest season.
In “A Hero,” one good deed blows up into a fiasco. Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is in prison because of debt. During his two-day leave, he and his secret lover Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust) conspire to pay it off with a serendipitous bag of seventeen gold coins. Halfway through the transaction, however, Rahim decides to backtrack — and instead give the bag back to its owner. When the local papers find out,...
In “A Hero,” one good deed blows up into a fiasco. Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is in prison because of debt. During his two-day leave, he and his secret lover Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust) conspire to pay it off with a serendipitous bag of seventeen gold coins. Halfway through the transaction, however, Rahim decides to backtrack — and instead give the bag back to its owner. When the local papers find out,...
- 9/13/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Asghar Farhadi doesn’t use Twitter or Facebook. “It takes a lot of time, and from an emotional point of view, I’m not the kind of person that can absorb that much bad news,” he says. But the two-time Oscar-winning Iranian director has made a trenchant critique of the phenomenon of social media-anointed saints and villains with his new film, A Hero.
The Iran-set drama, which had its North American premiere at the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend after winning the Grand Prix at Cannes in June, follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a divorced father imprisoned for debt, whose ...
The Iran-set drama, which had its North American premiere at the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend after winning the Grand Prix at Cannes in June, follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a divorced father imprisoned for debt, whose ...
Asghar Farhadi doesn’t use Twitter or Facebook. “It takes a lot of time, and from an emotional point of view, I’m not the kind of person that can absorb that much bad news,” he says. But the two-time Oscar-winning Iranian director has made a trenchant critique of the phenomenon of social media-anointed saints and villains with his new film, A Hero.
The Iran-set drama, which had its North American premiere at the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend after winning the Grand Prix at Cannes in June, follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a divorced father imprisoned for debt, whose ...
The Iran-set drama, which had its North American premiere at the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend after winning the Grand Prix at Cannes in June, follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a divorced father imprisoned for debt, whose ...
Penal system is a common topic in Iranian cinema, and for good reasons so. Firstly, the problems with it are real, from the death penalty that is administered way too much to the overcrowded prisons and the toxic mix between the all-powerful bureaucracy and the vision of justice more based in some elusive code of honour than in written laws. Secondly, prisons are the perfect metaphor for the isolated, deeply unhappy society. Thirdly, the whole idea of punishment instead of rehabilitation that is in place in Iran (among other countries) is not only prone to backfiring, but is absurd in its core, since the person with a prison record has less chances in life generally. The sense of absurdity is highlighted when it comes to imprisoning people for debt: theoretically they have to stay in prison until they pay it off, but practically it is impossible as long as they are incarcerated.
- 8/23/2021
- by Marko Stojiljković
- AsianMoviePulse
The Zurich Film Festival has unveiled its lineup of Gala Premieres, including the world premieres of Florian Gallenberger’s relationship comedy “It’s Just a Phase, Honey,” and Andreas Schmied’s skiing champion biopic “Chasing the Line,” as well as a German-language territories premiere for Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” which will close the festival.
The Gala section focuses on auteur films with broad audience appeal, with the filmmakers presenting their films in person. “We’re celebrating the comeback of great auteur cinema this year,” said artistic director Christian Jungen. “Thanks to the Zff’s reputation on the international film scene, it has now become easier for us to get important movies that go on to play a crucial role later in the award season.”
“It’s Just a Phase, Honey,” which stars Christoph Maria Herbst and Christiane Paul, focuses on Emilia and Paul, whose marriage has broken down.
The Gala section focuses on auteur films with broad audience appeal, with the filmmakers presenting their films in person. “We’re celebrating the comeback of great auteur cinema this year,” said artistic director Christian Jungen. “Thanks to the Zff’s reputation on the international film scene, it has now become easier for us to get important movies that go on to play a crucial role later in the award season.”
“It’s Just a Phase, Honey,” which stars Christoph Maria Herbst and Christiane Paul, focuses on Emilia and Paul, whose marriage has broken down.
- 8/19/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
In A Hero, the discovery of a bag of gold coins sets the scene for a knotted Bressonian morality tale. The director is Asghar Farhadi, a filmmaker who has spent his career examining those blurred lines between right and wrong; decency and hubris; righteousness and folly. Taking place in the city of Shiraz, it proves a return to familiar ground for him: both the first he has made in his native Iran after the awful misstep that was Everybody Knows, as well as a return to the moral complexities of A Separation, still his finest film to date.
Farhadi stakes a claim for his latest’s fable credentials with an opening flourish: a weightless craning shot across the marvelous facade of Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia where visiting nobles would come to present their offerings. Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is not a noble man, per se, but certainly one with...
Farhadi stakes a claim for his latest’s fable credentials with an opening flourish: a weightless craning shot across the marvelous facade of Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia where visiting nobles would come to present their offerings. Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is not a noble man, per se, but certainly one with...
- 7/17/2021
- by Rory O'Connor
- The Film Stage
In “A Hero” (“Ghahreman”), Asghar Farhadi blurs the line of innocence and guilt in a fraught drama about the true weight of a good deed. During a two-day reprieve from prison, Rahim Soltani (Amir Jadidi) and his girlfriend Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust) discover a handbag full of golden coins. Though Rahim briefly debates selling them to help offset the cost of his debts to Braham (Mohsen Tanabandeh), the gold exchange rate is unsatisfactorily low, and he resolves to track down the original owner and return them.
Continue reading ‘A Hero’: Asghar Farhadi’s Moral Quandary Film Questions The Weight of a Good Deed [Cannes Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘A Hero’: Asghar Farhadi’s Moral Quandary Film Questions The Weight of a Good Deed [Cannes Review] at The Playlist.
- 7/15/2021
- by Caroline Tsai
- The Playlist
It shouldn’t be a shocker that an international feature from Asghar Farhadi has entered the awards conversation with the vivacious and flavorful “A Hero.” How the Iranian filmmaker chooses to frame his stories has always been compelling, and it’s a quality that has been overlooked by the Academy in his tenure. Perhaps, this could be his ticket to an overdue directing nomination.
The film tells the story of Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who is in prison for a debt that he was unable to pay. During a two-day leave, an act of kindness provides Rahim with an opportunity to convince his creditor to withdraw the complaint so he can go free, but not everything goes as planned.
Farhadi, who serves as the writer, director and producer of “A Hero,” is one of the most assured filmmakers working in our industry. He knows exactly what type of films he wants to create,...
The film tells the story of Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who is in prison for a debt that he was unable to pay. During a two-day leave, an act of kindness provides Rahim with an opportunity to convince his creditor to withdraw the complaint so he can go free, but not everything goes as planned.
Farhadi, who serves as the writer, director and producer of “A Hero,” is one of the most assured filmmakers working in our industry. He knows exactly what type of films he wants to create,...
- 7/14/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
After opening the competition in 2018 with Everybody Knows, Asghar Farhadi truly is in a return to form mode with the set in Iran drama, A Hero – a title that Amazon Studios landed well before the Cannes premiere. Winner of the Best Foreign Language Film for A Separation (2012) and The Salesman (also a comp title in 2017), he also presented The Past in 2013. This features Amir Jadidi in the lead role – pulled in just about every direction.
It was a double dose of great cinema with A Hero being unveiled just before Titane. With a combined average of 3.6, eleven of our critics are giving this 3.5’s and 4’s — making this a great challenger for the Palme d’Or and is that fails – the best choice in the Best Screenplay category.…...
It was a double dose of great cinema with A Hero being unveiled just before Titane. With a combined average of 3.6, eleven of our critics are giving this 3.5’s and 4’s — making this a great challenger for the Palme d’Or and is that fails – the best choice in the Best Screenplay category.…...
- 7/14/2021
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Julia Ducournau’s title lands behind ‘Lingui, The Scared Bonds’ on the jury grid.
Julia Ducournau’s Titane landed with a thud on Screen’s Cannes 2021 jury grid, scoring an average of just 1.6 with our critics.
That places it fourth from last on the grid to date, only ahead of Sean Penn’s Flag Day (1.1), Catherine Corsini’s The Divide (1.4) and Nanni Moretti’s Three Floors (1.5).
Starring Agathe Rousselle and Vincent Lindon, Titane is Ducournau’s much-discussed follow-up to her feature debut Raw, which debuted in Critics’ Week in 2016.
Liberation’s critics Julien Gester and Didier Péron were not impressed,...
Julia Ducournau’s Titane landed with a thud on Screen’s Cannes 2021 jury grid, scoring an average of just 1.6 with our critics.
That places it fourth from last on the grid to date, only ahead of Sean Penn’s Flag Day (1.1), Catherine Corsini’s The Divide (1.4) and Nanni Moretti’s Three Floors (1.5).
Starring Agathe Rousselle and Vincent Lindon, Titane is Ducournau’s much-discussed follow-up to her feature debut Raw, which debuted in Critics’ Week in 2016.
Liberation’s critics Julien Gester and Didier Péron were not impressed,...
- 7/14/2021
- by Melissa Kasule
- ScreenDaily
Julia Ducournau’s title lands behind ‘Lingui, The Scared Bonds’ on the jury grid.
Julia Ducournau’s Titane landed with a thud on Screen’s Cannes 2021 jury grid, scoring an average of just 1.6 with our critics.
That places it fourth from last on the grid to date, only ahead of Sean Penn’s Flag Day (1.1), Catherine Corsini’s The Divide (1.4) and Nanni Moretti’s Three Floors (1.5).
Starring Agathe Rousselle and Vincent Lindon, Titane is Ducournau’s much-discussed follow-up to her feature debut Raw, which debuted in Critics’ Week in 2016.
Liberation’s critics Julien Gester and Didier Péron were not impressed,...
Julia Ducournau’s Titane landed with a thud on Screen’s Cannes 2021 jury grid, scoring an average of just 1.6 with our critics.
That places it fourth from last on the grid to date, only ahead of Sean Penn’s Flag Day (1.1), Catherine Corsini’s The Divide (1.4) and Nanni Moretti’s Three Floors (1.5).
Starring Agathe Rousselle and Vincent Lindon, Titane is Ducournau’s much-discussed follow-up to her feature debut Raw, which debuted in Critics’ Week in 2016.
Liberation’s critics Julien Gester and Didier Péron were not impressed,...
- 7/14/2021
- by Melissa Kasule
- ScreenDaily
Check out TheWrap’s digital Cannes magazine issue here. You can find all of TheWrap’s Cannes coverage here.
While we argued at the halfway point of the Cannes Film Festival that a single film hadn’t quite emerged as the runaway favorite for the Palme d’Or, Asghar Farhadi’s latest “A Hero” is now making a strong case for frontrunner status, with critics calling the Iranian director’s film his best since “A Separation.”
Farhadi has been in the running for the Palme d’Or three times, and he’s picked up prizes for “The Past” and “The Salesman,” along with Oscars for “The Salesman” and “A Separation.” His latest is about a man who is on a two-day leave from prison for an unpaid debt who faces a moral quandary when he comes across a bag of money. “A Hero” premiered on Tuesday and then screened again on Wednesday morning,...
While we argued at the halfway point of the Cannes Film Festival that a single film hadn’t quite emerged as the runaway favorite for the Palme d’Or, Asghar Farhadi’s latest “A Hero” is now making a strong case for frontrunner status, with critics calling the Iranian director’s film his best since “A Separation.”
Farhadi has been in the running for the Palme d’Or three times, and he’s picked up prizes for “The Past” and “The Salesman,” along with Oscars for “The Salesman” and “A Separation.” His latest is about a man who is on a two-day leave from prison for an unpaid debt who faces a moral quandary when he comes across a bag of money. “A Hero” premiered on Tuesday and then screened again on Wednesday morning,...
- 7/14/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
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