The new film from dual Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi, which took home Cannes 2021’s Grand Prix, is a tale of redemption, veneration and modern morality.

After falling on hard times and becoming unable to pay back a debt, Rahim lands himself in jail. When he’s unexpectedly granted a two-day leave of absence for good behaviour, he uses the time to seek amends, banking on the goodwill of his creditor. However, things don’t go quite as Rahim planned.

Following his Spanish-language debut Everybody Knows (MIFF 2018) with this engrossing drama-thriller, beloved Iranian director Asghar Farhadi returns to the fertile filmmaking soils of his homeland. Shot in the culturally significant city of Shiraz, A Hero tells a contemporary story with characteristic verve and suspense. Working with his daughter, Sarina Farhadi (best known for her Silver Bear–winning performance in his A Separation, MIFF 2011), as well as a cast of actors new to his films – among them, Amir Jadidi (Mani Haghighi’s A Dragon Arrives!, MIFF 2016), Mohsen Tanabandeh (Jafar Panahi’s Offside, MIFF 2006) and Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy (Panahi’s The Circle, MIFF 2006; and The White Balloon, MIFF 1996) – the master auteur has once again made one of the most eagerly anticipated cinematic gems of the year.

“A demonstrative examination of the way our raising of heroes onto social media pedestals diminishes the messy, sometimes impenetrable truth of human lives.” – Slant