Farhadi's 'Parallel Tales' Wins 5.5-Minute Cannes Ovation as 2-Hour-20 Drama Enters Palme Race
Updated
Updated · Variety · May 14
Farhadi's 'Parallel Tales' Wins 5.5-Minute Cannes Ovation as 2-Hour-20 Drama Enters Palme Race
4 articles · Updated · Variety · May 14
A 5.5-minute standing ovation greeted Asghar Farhadi’s “Parallel Tales” at its Cannes premiere, marking the Iranian director’s return to the festival for the first time since 2021’s “A Hero.”
The 2-hour-20 French-language drama stars Isabelle Huppert as a novelist spying on neighbors for material, with Adam Bessa, Catherine Deneuve, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel and Pierre Niney in the ensemble.
“Parallel Tales” is competing for the Palme d’Or, a prize Farhadi has chased multiple times; “The Salesman” won best screenplay in 2016 and “A Hero” took the grand prix in 2021.
Farhadi has lived outside Iran since 2023 and says he will not make another film there until mandatory hijab rules for film and television are lifted.
Is Asghar Farhadi losing his cinematic magic by making films outside of his native Iran?
Why did Farhadi's new film get a long ovation but face such harsh reviews from critics?
Can a filmmaker's condemnation of war crimes influence international policy on the Iran conflict?