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Asghar Farhadi

Everybody Knows – Disclosing Open Secrets

November 26, 2018 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

In Everybody Knows, director Asghar Farhadi leaves Iranian stresses behind (cf., A Separation, The Past, and The Salesman) for a more Eurocentric story. His previous films focus on people dealing with the tensions between two cultures. This film is a more conventional story, which although it is adequately done, doesn’t have the same thought-provoking quality of his earlier work.

Laura (Penélope Cruz) has returned to her hometown in Spain from Argentina with her two children for a family wedding. It is a time of joyous reunions. She and her children reacquaint themselves with family and friends. Perhaps her teenage daughter Irene is attracted to one of the local boys, but it’s all seems fairly innocent. It also seems fairly innocent that her former lover Paco (Javier Bardem) is a close family friend and part of the wedding preparations. Both Paco and Laura are both happily married, but their past will never go away.

Penélope Cruz stars as Laura and Javier Bardem as Paco in Asghar Farhadi’s EVERYBODY KNOWS, a Focus Features release.Credit: Teresa Isasi/Focus Features

The film takes its time setting this joyous and celebrative mood. The possibilities of romance hang in the air, but suddenly it all changes. During the wedding reception, Irene doesn’t feel good and goes to her room. When Laura goes to look in on her, the door is locked, and when they finally get it open, she is gone. Soon there is a message from kidnappers warning them not to tell the police. Is this a professional job or has it been done by someone close?

The family struggles to come up with the ransom. It is assumed that Laura’s husband has the money, but they have fallen on hard times. Paco starts rumors that he might sell his wine business, to make it seem that he might pay the ransom. But that brings up old wounds between him and Laura’s family over how he came to own the land. In time more secrets and old grievances will come to light. And often, as the title suggests, these are rather open secrets.

Although it fits into the thriller genre, it’s not the kind of film that gives viewers a bump in adrenaline. Rather the tensions are more personal. It is more about how each person faces the situation. Laura frets and has a hard time coping or making decisions. Paco takes action, but seems to be a bit more invested than one might expect from an old flame. Laura’s husband Alejandro (Ricardo Darín) continues to believe that God will help. That stance of faith seems to be escapist, but it reflects his experience of God’s help in his life. But it may also block him from accepting help that may come from others. (Can’t God help through other people?)

The film never quite fully explores the tensions between characters. That has been Farhadi’s strength in previous films. So what we get may work at a basic level, but doesn’t deliver the kind of experience those who know his work will expect.

Filed Under: AFIFest, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Asghar Farhadi, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Ricardo Darin, Spain, thriller

Wednesday at AFIFest 2018

November 15, 2018 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

In the theater before each screening at AFIFest 2018 Presented by Audi, there are slides about AFI that show sponsors and donors. Those are all very important. Those are the reasons AFIFest is free to the public. But there are also those not listed because there are so many of them—the volunteers. It takes lots of volunteers to make a festival work. Some of their work is behind the scene, or they may be on their feet for hours wrangling the lines or collecting tickets and queue cards. Each screening gives the volunteers a round of applause (which they probably never hear.) If there is a festival near you, consider volunteering. At least you’ll get a t-shirt out of it—and you’ll help people see some wonderful films.

Dogman is Italy’s official entry for Oscar consideration. Directed by Matteo Garone, it is the story of Marcello (Marcello Fonte), of a dog groomer who gets caught up in the criminal underworld. Marcello is meek and caring, but the local thug Simone (Edoardo Pesce) terrorizes him and pushes him into crime. In time Marcello loses everything important to him and must find a way out of Simone’s grip. But at what cost?

Penélope Cruz stars as Laura and Javier Bardem as Paco in Asghar Farhadi’s EVERYBODY KNOWS, a Focus Features release.Credit: Teresa Isasi/Focus Features

The secrets of the past come out in Everybody Knows (Todos Lo Saben) from director Asghar Farhadi. When Laura (Penélope Cruz) returns home to Spain for her sister’s wedding, there is great celebration. But when her daughter is kidnapped, the story turns dark and suspenseful. Her childhood love, Paco (Javier Bardem), becomes highly invested in trying to help, putting both of their marriages at risk. As the days go on, questions arise of old relationships and old resentments. Is it the work of outsiders, or is it someone close to the family? Will the old sparks bring new love or destroy everyone involved? Everybody Knows is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters in February.

Emma Stone in the film THE FAVOURITE. Photo by Yorgos Lanthimos. © 2018 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

Yorgos Lanthimos has created some bizarre societies for his films, but perhaps nothing quite like the British royal household during Queen Anne’s reign in The Favourite. Lady Sarah (Rachel Weiss) is Queen Anne’s (Olivia Colman) confidant and advisor. She is also the éminence grise, controlling the kingdom through her influence with the queen (who needs all the help she can get because she is a twit). When her down-on-her-luck cousin Abigail (Emma Stone) turns up seeking a post, she is sent to work as a scullery maid but, bit by bit, Abigail works her way around Sarah and into the Queen’s service. Abigail becomes allied with the parliamentary opposition, thwarting Sarah’s work with the prime minister. This is a Machiavellian comedy about deception and power. Lanthimos fans will surely appreciate his humor. The Favourite opens in theaters later this month.

 

Filed Under: AFIFest, Film, Film Festivals Tagged With: Asghar Farhadi, Matteo Garone. Itally, Official Oscar entry, Yorgos Lanthimos

AFIFest – Easier Than a Trip to Cannes

November 13, 2016 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

We don’t all get to go to Cannes for what may be considered the most prestigious film festival. I know I don’t make it there. But yesterday at AFIFest  (presented by Audi), I managed to see three films that all won awards at Cannes this year. And I didn’t have to pay for airfare and a hotel room.

daniel-blake

Ken Loach won his second Palme d’Or for I, Daniel Blake. (His first was for The Wind that Shakes the Barley in 2006.)  Loach’s films offer social criticism focusing on everyday people struggling with the issues of life. Daniel Blake is a carpenter who is off work because of a heart attack. Although his doctor says he can’t work, the bureaucracy had deemed him fit for work and has cut off his disability. He can, however, apply for job seekers’ assistance. As he deals with the heartless bureaucracy that is more concerned with the rules and procedures than actually helping people, he meets a young single mother trying to raise two children in the same system. This is a film about caring and non-caring. It is a reminder that those with financial struggles are people who deserve respect and compassion. The film will be in theaters around Christmas. Look for a fuller review then.

only-end-of-world

The Iranian film The Salesman won the awards for Best Screenplay (Asghar Farhadi) and Best Actor (Shahab Hosseini) at Cannes. Farhadi’s films often deal with the relationship between a husband and wife. In The Salesman Emad and Rana are both actors who are in a production of Death of a Salesman. After Rana is attacked in their apartment, their relationship is under stress as Emad is out for revenge and Rana is feeling vulnerable and wanting everything to go away. Questions of vengeance and mercy play out—mostly by looking at how those choices affect Emad and Rana. The Salesman is Iran’s official Oscar entry.

salesman

The Grand Prix is the second most prestigious award at Cannes. This year it went to the Canadian film It’s Only the End of the World. Louis is a playwright who left his home twelve years ago and is coming back for a visit. He tells us at the beginning of the film that this is a “journey to announce my death.” When he arrives at his mother’s home, his sister, brother and sister-in-law are all there. We soon discover that this is a family that defines itself by bickering with one another. Their times together are often uncomfortable. Louis has various one-on-one scenes with each of the others, but we know that these are people we wouldn’t want to be around any more than Louis has the last twelve years. At the same time, what role does Louis’s leaving have to do with the feelings that have developed in the family? It seems his return only serves as a catalyst to further exacerbate the fragile situation. It’s Only the End of the World is Canada’s official Oscar entry.

Photos provided by AFIFest presented by Audi

Filed Under: Featured, Film Tagged With: AFIFest, Asghar Farhadi, Canada, Iran, Ken Loach, Official Oscar entry, Palme d'Or, UK, Xavier Dolan

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