‘A Hero’ Review: Ashgar Farhadi's Study Of A Modern Man's Pursuit To Restore His Dignity.
After producing and shooting his last film in Spain, Ashgar Farhadi returns to his home country of Iran with his newest film, Ghahreman, also known by its English name, A Hero. As with Farhadi's other well-known films, including A Separation and The Salesman, A Hero strongly reflects the director's concentration on social realism and shows the truths of modern-day Iran. Before premiering at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival (where the film tied for the Grand Prix Award), Amazon Studios acquired the U.S distribution rights for the film, which also distributed The Salesman in 2016 and pushed it towards its Academy Award win for Best International Feature. Initiating with a down-to-earth event that involves a man finding a purse full of gold coins on the street, A Hero is masterly woven into a moral quest for a downtrodden protagonist to regain his honor.
In A Hero, Amir Jadidi stars as Rahim, an unfortunate man who is divorced and imprisoned after failing to pay off his loans from a business venture gone wrong. During a two-day release from jail, Rahim comes across a purse that must have been lost on the street, containing seventeen gold coins. Through a labyrinthic series of intertwining encounters and complications, Rahim attempts to return the bag to its rightful owner and regain his authority over his own life for himself and his family. Through Rahim's amiable pursuits to "do the right thing," Farhadi's detailed screenplay emphasizes the impossibilities of overcoming broken social and governmental systems.
Farhadi's priorities with depicting his authentic world are on display in many ways in A Hero, most notably through its powerful narrative, as mentioned before. A Hero's intricate storyline bases itself on hectic, unexpected events that audiences know can occur in an actual day, such as the frustrations of dealing with bureaucratic systems or protecting oneself from the harmful repercussions of social media. Farhadi can take on familiar film tropes of the "chance encounter" and instill realistic notions of life's continuity in ways other filmmakers would never be able to maintain control over.
The director's sensibilities for social realism are also on full display through A Hero's impeccable casting and practical visual language. Jadidi's portrayal of Rahim taps into the physicality and mentality of a character on the verge of total defeat. Jadidi's performance reveals itself in layers, mirroring the film's compelling narrative. Cast in the role of Rahim's love interest Farkhondeh is Sahar Goldust, who delivers an impressive depiction of a woman frustrated with her inability to aid her lover with bettering himself so that they can be together. A Hero's visual style employs gritty handheld digital camerawork that highlights the film's extensive on-location shooting, emphasizing the realities of Iranian life and culture today. One of the film's opening scenes is particularly striking - closely following Rahim up a massive set of stairs on a construction site, giving insight into the character's many obstacles to come.
With A Hero, Farhadi maintains his reputation as one of the world's most prolific filmmakers. Farhadi does not rely on flash performances or sumptuous visuals, instead choosing to lean into the truths of everyday life to communicate his critical notions of the modern world. As a result, the complexities of A Hero's story are fully rooted in reality while also weaving a narrative engaging enough to keep audiences invested in Rahim's journey to redemption. After its victorious debut at Cannes last summer, A Hero went on to play the festival circuit with much success, earning significant praise amongst audiences and critics alike. The film has garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best International Feature Film and has made the shortlist for an Academy Award nomination in the same category (Farhadi has won two International Feature Film Oscars already). Whether screened in a theater or at home, A Hero is an enriching new International film of 2022 that cinephiles should rush to see.
A Hero is currently in its theatrical release and will be available to stream on Amazon Prime beginning January 21st. See the film’s official U.S trailer below.