Asghar Farhadi Condemns 2 Waves of Iranian Deaths at Cannes
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 15
Asghar Farhadi Condemns 2 Waves of Iranian Deaths at Cannes
10 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 15
Asghar Farhadi said at Cannes that civilian war deaths and the killing of Iranian protesters were both "extremely cruel and tragic" after returning from Tehran last week.
The Oscar-winning director rejected any trade-off in sympathy, saying outrage over bombed civilians does not excuse executions or shootings of demonstrators and that "any murder is a crime."
Farhadi, who has lived outside Iran since 2023, said he will not make films there while censorship remains; earlier this year he called attacks on civilian infrastructure a war crime.
Parallel Tales, his new Paris-set drama, premiered Thursday at Cannes, where Iranian cinema remains prominent despite pressure on dissident film-makers including Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof.
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Iran’s Dual Crises: 6,126 Dead in Crackdown and War—Asghar Farhadi’s Cannes Stand for Universal Compassion
Overview
At the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi made headlines not only as a top contender for the Palme d’Or but also for his bold moral statement. Farhadi urged the world to embrace broad empathy, stressing that caring for innocent victims of bombings does not mean supporting violence against protesters. He highlighted that people can feel sadness and anger for all victims, calling for a comprehensive understanding of suffering. This message resonated deeply amid Iran’s recent dual crises—government crackdowns on protests and escalating external conflicts—underscoring the urgent need to acknowledge and mourn all victims of violence.