Merely days after "A Separation" helmer Asghar Farhadi cast fellow Oscar winner Marion Cotillard in his mysterious French-language feature, the Iranian has added another prestigious Gallic talent to the project in actor Tahar Rahim.
Details of the story remain under wraps but the pic will see Rahim unite with fellow Jacques Audiard collaborator Cotillard for what Farhadi has described as an "emotional social thriller" in the vein of 'A Separation,' with multiple twists aimed at keeping the audience in suspense from the first frame to the last. It'll also mark the first time Farhadi has shot a film outside his native Iran with lensing to begin this fall on an €11 million budget.
After breaking out at Cannes three years ago with his award-winning role in Audiard's "A Prophet," Rahim has pretty much avoided the allure Hollywood and the bigger pay checks (aside from a part in Kevin MacDonald's "The Eagle"), instead deciding to stay in Europe working with name likes Lou Ye, Joachim Lafosse, Jean-Jacques Annaud and Ismaël Ferroukhi. Things look to be kicking up a gear in 2012 with this collaboration with Farhadi and Cotillard, as well as the planned finale to Faith Akin's Love, Death & The Devil Trilogy with "The Cut" — both of which will surely see the actor return to major film festival red carpets early next year. [Variety]
Sorry for the previous garbled text!
This film in due time shall prove to be a milestone in Persian literature and drama. Noting the Western art critics accolades, in spite of lack of knowledge of the background and having to follow the story through fast moving, abbreviÂated subtitles, one can only assume that A Separation shall also prove to be a milestone in world cinema, once more deeply studied. The most outstanding feature is the amount of compaction in content that the film has achieved, a modern necessity considÂering the fast pace of modern life. If one is familiar with present and past of the Iranian culture and attentive enough to the details, there is enough in this two hour movie to outgun a Thomas Mann novel. This high level of compaction is achieved by relying on the viewer to fill in the details from gestures, clues, metaphors, allegories and knowledge of the Iranian socio-political scene. All these instruments can only be assembled under one roof in the cinema. In theater or literature you cannot use the exchange of the eye contact between Termeh and the little girl that speaks volumes about the corruption of the grown up world. Could Farhadi achieve the same hight in a French film, where he lacks the cultural background? My only consolation is that enough of the richness of 'A Separation' may have been lost to the occidental viewer that he may enjoy the French film even more than the original Persian masterpiece!
This film in due time shall prove to be a mileÂstone in PerÂsian âlitÂerÂaÂtureâ and drama. NotÂing the WestÂern art critÂicsâ accoÂlades, in spite of lack of knowlÂedge of the backÂground and havÂing to folÂlow the story through fast movÂing, abbreÂviÂated subÂtiÂtles, one can only assume that A SepÂaÂraÂtion shall also prove to be a mileÂstone in world cinÂema, once more deeply studied.
The most outÂstandÂing feaÂture is the amount of comÂpaction in conÂtent that the film has achieved, a modÂern necesÂsity conÂsidÂerÂing the fast pace of modÂern life. If one is familÂiar with present and past of the IranÂian culÂture and attenÂtive enough to the details, there is enough in this two hour movie to outgun a Thomas Mann novel. This high level of comÂpaction is achieved by relyÂing on the viewer to fill in the details from gesÂtures, clues, metaphors, alleÂgories and knowlÂedge of the IranÂian socio-political scene. All these instruÂments can only be assemÂbled under one roof in the cinÂema. In theÂater or or litÂerÂaÂture you canÂnot use the exchange of the eye conÂtact between TerÂmeh and the litÂtle girl that speaks volÂumes about the corÂrupÂtion of the grown up world. Could Farhadi achieve the same hight in a French film, where he lacks the cultural background?
My only consolation is that enough of the richness of 'A Separation' may have been lost to the occidental viewer that he may enjoy the French film even more than the original Persian masterpiece!
Logical reason? The film in question, "A Separation", is an excellent film, by any standards; full of intriguing human drama and stellar performances. The politics, though no doubt relevant, are secondary. Iran banning and locking up its own film makers is bound to illicit a response, political or otherwise, from other countries and fellow artists.
this is stupid . for politic,they gave oscar and now great actress and great budget for another movie . there were many great Iranian movie in the past like" so close so far " , " a bite of beard ( I don't sure about translation ) what happen for them. they can rise a person without logical reason