Local art-house movie fans have the chance to watch another one of this year’s Oscar winning films, with the release of The Salesman at Nouveau cinemas from Friday 5 May.
Directed by Asghar Farhadi, The Salesman won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars, in addition to awards for Best Screenplay and Best Actor at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. This is the second Academy Award win for Farhadi, who won it previously for A Separation in 2012.
Taut drama
This characteristically taut drama explores how unexpected cracks can form in the foundations of a seemingly happy marriage.
In The Salesman, the future looks promising for amateur actors Emad (Shahab Hosseini), a teacher, and his wife Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti), as they prepare for opening night on their production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. However, when dangerous work on a neighbouring building forces the couple to leave their home and move into a new apartment, a case of mistaken identity sees a shocking and violent incident throw their lives into turmoil.
What follows is a series of wrong turns that creates a simmering tension between husband and wife that threatens to destroy their relationship irreparably.
Farhadi’s study on the potent power of pride, guilt and shame treads the line between arresting drama and revenge thriller with masterful ease.
Critics rave
Rolling Stone calls the film “gripping” and The Village Voice says it is “an expertly made suspenseful film”. “Grade A magnificent,” said Entertainment Weekly. Indiewire called it “the most important film of the year” and “a mesmerising achievement, Grade A+”.
The film has garnered 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and a host of four star reviews around the globe including amongst others: Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and Seattle Times, with A.O. Scott of The New York Times calling it “a life altering work”.
“We’re excited to bring this stellar film to South African cinemas to give audiences a glimpse of Asghar Farhadi’s brilliance as attested to by the film’s Academy Award win this year,” said Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group, the film’s local distributor.
What: The Salesman
Where and when: Nouveau cinemas at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, on Friday, 5 May. The film’s running time is 125 mins
Book: www.sterkinekor.com
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