Asghar Farhadi

Birthday: 1972, Isfahan, Iran

Asghar Farhadi was born in 1972 in Iran. He became interested in cinema in his teenage years and started his filmmaking education by joining the Youth Cinema Society of Esfahan in 1986 where he made 8mm and 16mm short films. He received his Bachelors in Theater from University of Tehran's School of Dramatic Arts in 1998 and his Masters in Stage Direction from Tarbiat Modarres University a few years later. During these formative years, Farhadi made six shorts and two TV series for Iran's National Broadcasting Corporation (IRIB) of which "A Tale of a City" is most noteworthy.In 2001, he debuted in professional cinema by co-writing the script for Ertefae Past (2002) (Ertefae Past), a post-911 political farce chronicle of Southwest Iran, with famed war film director, Ebrahim Hatamikia. The film was met with both critical and public success. The following year, Farhadi made his directorial debut, Raghs dar ghobar (2003) (Raghs dar Ghobar), about a man forced to divorce his wife and go hunting snakes in the desert in order to repay his debts to his in-laws. The film earned recognition at Fajr and Moscow International Film Festivals and a year later, Beautiful City (2004) (Shahr-e-Ziba), a grave work about a young man condemned to death at the age of sixteen, received awards from Fajr and Warsaw International Film Festivals. His third film, Chaharshanbe-soori (2006) (Chaharshambe Soori), won the Gold Hugo at the 2006 Chicago International Film Festival. His fourth film, Darbareye Elly (2009) (Darbareye Elly) was called "a masterpiece" by film critic David Bordwell and won the Silver Bear for Best Director at 59th Berlin International Film Festival as well as Best Picture at Tribeca Film Festival. It was also Iran's official submission for the Foreign Language Film competition of Academy Awards in 2009. His most recent film, Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (2011) (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin), became a sensation. It got critical acclaim inside and outside of Iran; Roger Ebert called it "the best picture of the year," and it was awarded the Crystal Simorgh from Fajr Film Festival, Golden Bear and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury from Berlin International Film Festival, and also won Best Foreign Language Film from The Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago and Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, National Board of Review, Golden Globes, César Award, Independent Spirit Award, and ultimately the Academy Award in the 'Best Foreign Language Film of the Year,' making him the first Iranian filmmaker ever to win an Oscar. His Oscar acceptance speech at the 84th Academy Awards, a message of peace in tens political times in his country, made him an instant hero amongst Iranians. His film also received nomination for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award in the best 'Film Not in the English Language' category and for an Academy Award in the 'Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen' category. A few days after receiving an Oscar, Farhadi signed with the United Talent Agency (UTA). Hide

I like storytelling movies and more than that I like historical movies; and I think someday I'll def Show more I like storytelling movies and more than that I like historical movies; and I think someday I'll definitely make a movie about the past 50 years history. Hide

I believe that the world today needs more questions than answers. Answers prevent you from questioni Show more I believe that the world today needs more questions than answers. Answers prevent you from questioning, from thinking. Hide

Classical tragedy was the war between good and evil. We wanted evil to be defeated and good to be vi Show more Classical tragedy was the war between good and evil. We wanted evil to be defeated and good to be victorious. But the battle in modern tragedy is between good and good. And no matter which side wins, we'll still be heartbroken. Hide

I like storytelling movies and more than that I like historical movies, and I think someday I'll def Show more I like storytelling movies and more than that I like historical movies, and I think someday I'll definitely make a movie about the past 50 years history (Iran's history). Hide

[on his writing process] All my stories are written in a non-linear way. They don't go from point A Show more [on his writing process] All my stories are written in a non-linear way. They don't go from point A to point B. I always have several stories developing simultaneously and they come together during a shared situation. Hide

It was in the theater that I learned how it is that you can work with actors. To give an example, I Show more It was in the theater that I learned how it is that you can work with actors. To give an example, I have a character in the film [A Separation (2011)] who's supposed to be a religious woman. Once the script is finished, I didn't find her and say 'You're going to be a religious character. This is what you should do'. In the few months remaining before shooting she would actually turn into a religious person. I asked her to pray promptly every day, meaning five times. I asked her to wear a chador which is the traditional long veil. I asked her not to use her personal car... to restrict her rapport with any men who were not known to her. And after a while of rehearsing this way she actually started to behave like a religious person. Don't worry, as soon as the film is over, she turned back into her former self. Hide

[Award acceptance speech after receiving the Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category for "A Show more [Award acceptance speech after receiving the Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category for "A Separation" (2011) at the 84th Academy Awards] At this time many Iranians all over the world are watching us, and I imagine them to be very happy. They are happy not just because of an important award, or a film, or a filmmaker, but, because at a time of talk of war, intimidation, and aggressions exchanged between politicians, the name of their country, Iran, is spoken here through her glorious culture; a rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics. I proudly offer this award to the people of my country; the people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment. Hide

Each person makes their own choice, but my spirit is meant to stay in Iran, especially with the work Show more Each person makes their own choice, but my spirit is meant to stay in Iran, especially with the work that I do, and with the emotional connection I have with the country - with all its difficulties, this is why I stay. Hide

I feel that it means a lot to the people of Iran that my film is represented at the Oscars, and it m Show more I feel that it means a lot to the people of Iran that my film is represented at the Oscars, and it makes me happy to bring them that joy, that I'm representing them and that I'm able to give them that element of pleasure to be the envoy from Iran. It's a very pleasant thing. Hide

[on how Iran could consider submitting "A Separation" (2011), which deals with marital breakup in a Show more [on how Iran could consider submitting "A Separation" (2011), which deals with marital breakup in a Muslim family, for Oscar consideration] It's not a discussion that's linear - the government is this way, the people are that way. Within the government there's diversity of thought and taste. Some among them are much more open-minded, others are very closed. Perhaps what you're asking is, given the image that we have of the government which is so hard and full of censorship, how can you make such a film? That question would be like if you ask someone living in a desert, how is it that you can live, given the heat? Hide

I feel it's important to talk about the complex issues affecting us. I feel it's important to talk about the complex issues affecting us.

[on being asked that if not being free while making a movie can help improve the creativity in a soc Show more [on being asked that if not being free while making a movie can help improve the creativity in a society] I would preferring not to blame the absence of creativity on the presence of freedom. Hide

[on whether he will make films outside Iran] It will depend on the stories that comes to me. I won't Show more [on whether he will make films outside Iran] It will depend on the stories that comes to me. I won't decide to go make a film in a country and then find a story; I will wait for the story to tell me where to go. Hide

If you give an answer to your viewer, your film will simply finish in the movie theatre. But when yo Show more If you give an answer to your viewer, your film will simply finish in the movie theatre. But when you pose questions, your film actually begins after people watch it. In fact, your film will continue inside the viewer. Hide

[on why he focuses on family issues] When I base a story on a family it gives me a large possibility Show more [on why he focuses on family issues] When I base a story on a family it gives me a large possibility. Spectators all over the world have experience of families so this brings them one step closer to my films. Hide

I tend to jot down moments, lines, interactions that don't really make any sense. I try and explain Show more I tend to jot down moments, lines, interactions that don't really make any sense. I try and explain these scattered notes to my close friends, and they become more and more logical. I see screen writing as a bit like a math equation which I have to solve. Hide

I feel it's important to talk about the complex issues affecting us. I think it's insulting to an au Show more I feel it's important to talk about the complex issues affecting us. I think it's insulting to an audience to make them sit and watch a film and then give them a message in one sentence. Hide

I gained a great deal from the period during which I worked in theater and I value those things a gr Show more I gained a great deal from the period during which I worked in theater and I value those things a great deal. Hide

Asghar Farhadi's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (1) as Director (1) as Creator (1)

The Past