A Hero

Rahim is in prison after landing his brother-in-law in significant debt. We meet him as he is released on parole for a couple of days, with the goal to find a permanent solution to his money troubles, repay his brother-in-law, and get out of prison for good. When his new girlfriend comes up with a possible solution to his problems, he jumps at the opportunity – but it is not without its share of pitfalls.

Asghar Farhadi was one of two recipients of the Jury Grand Prix at Cannes earlier this year. A Hero marks his return to Iran after his previous, European film, Everybody Knows (2018). We are presented with a moral tale in the style of Bresson (L’Argent): A bag of gold coins and a noble deed end up creating more of a mess than the protagonist could have imagined. Family life, social media, and the heroic deed itself are all subjected to a complex moral examination – a format we know that this director has full mastery of.

Lasse Skagen

Director

Asghar Farhadi (b. 1972) was born in Iran, where he later attended theatre studies and achieved his masters degree at the University of Tehran. His filmography includes Fireworks Wednesday (2006), About Elly (2009), A Separation (2011), The Past (2013) and The Salesman (2016).