A Hero
A masterfully constructed thriller by Asghar Farhadi (A Separation) about a prisoner who tries to buy his way out of prison during a short parole.
It’s difficult not to empathise with affable, gentle-manned Rahim, a traditional sign-maker imprisoned for an unpaid debt to his former brother-in-law. His family are delighted when he surprises them with two days of leave and have no idea that he plans to repay his debt with a bag of gold coins his girlfriend found on a bus. Yet his decision has unexpected consequences, spiralling from a moment of redemption into chaos. As Farhadi gradually – and with characteristically forensic detail – unravels the plot, he underlines that stories too are constructions, and can easily be co-opted; truth really depends on where you stand. So, what truly makes a hero? Ability, honesty or simply the power to control the narrative? Co-winner of the Grand Prix du Jury at the Festival de Cannes. (source: BFI London Film Festival)