Tag: Hayedeh Safiyari

HOLY SPIDER (2022)

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Directed By: Ali Abbasi

Written By: Ali Abbasi and Afshin Kamran Bahrami 

Cinematography: Nadim Carlsen

Editor: Olivia Neergaard-Holm and Hayedeh Safiyari

Cast: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Alice Rahimi, Soraya Helli, Arash Ashtiani, Mehdi Bajestani, Sohaib Quista, Forouzan Jamshisnejad, Maryam Taleb 

Female journalist Rahimi travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate a serial killer targeting sex workers. As she draws closer to exposing his crimes, the opportunity for justice grows harder to attain when the murderer is embraced by many as a hero. Based on the true story of the ‘Spider Killer’ Saeed Hanaei, who saw himself as on a mission from God as he killed 16 women between 2000 and 2001.

This Is a film that is better to go into blind and then read this review. It discusses a lot of subjects in the film and this is the type of film. You will want to talk about it afterwards.

Drama and tension-filled, what is more disturbing is the fact that it is based on a true story. 

The film begins with a typical night for one woman. As she puts her child to end after feeding them and washes for her night out. As we see her make her rounds as a prostitute. How she is treated. We are made to believe she might be our lead character. Then she is attacked and we hope after spending this time with her she will survive, but she quickly becomes a victim. (Sort of like the SCREAM films only with no celebrity and no excitement in the kill.)

This allows us to see her killer. So that the mystery is cut short and in his hands now. 

The mystery is when or if he will get caught and how as it seems only two reporters are on his tail and seem to care. As the film continues we see the female reporters attempt to interview and find the Killer. We get to know more about his personal home life. Around his kids and wife which is relatively normal except for some outbursts and his fanatical extremism.

The film does show him hunting, picking up, and killing the prostitutes. As well as a scene that shows him having sex with his wife and with one of his victim’s bodies hidden in the room before he can dispose of it. How he gets turned on while watching the dead body a few feet away. Which only he can see.

The film offers many close calls. As we hope each time the next victim will escape and survive. Even when the bodies are discovered the reporters are at their front and center and he is in the background.

Even once the culprit is eventually caught. It shows that many men especially approve of his crimes and might inspire some to commit the crimes themselves in the future. That is one of the scariest parts of the film and the people involved. As most around him supper him Even after he is arrested.

As even after he is arrested it seems like all the work in hunting him down and getting him arrested after a reporter barely survives an attack by him. 

Luckily the film isn’t cut and dry. It doesn’t end with his arrest. We go through the short trial and also get interviews with victims’ families. As well as his own after. 

The ending offers some kind of justice turning tables to show him whimpering and fighting against his decided fate just as much as his victims fought for their lives.

The film shows the scary chauvinistic attitude and misogyny that exists in men. As even the desk clerk. Who at first didn’t want to let her have a room by herself. First son tries to hit on her and then when rejected not only threatens but finds it necessary to demean her.

In the end, it still shows a majority of the male characters inadvertently seem to hate women or at least consider them second class while holding them on a pedestal. Yet still try to exploit them for the crime in their heads of attracting them. 

GRADE: A +

A HERO (2021)

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Written & Directed By: Asghar Farhadi

Cinematography: Ali Ghazi and Arash Ramezani

Editor: Hayedeh Safiyari

Cast: Amir Jadidi, Mohamed Tanabandeh, Sahar Goldie’s, Faresheteh Sadorafaei, Ehsan Goodarzi, Sarina Farhadi, Maryam Shahdaei, Alireza Jahandideh 

Rahim is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don’t go as planned.

This story and film show that one lie inevitably leads to another. How he can stain or destroy all those clothes or who chooses to believe in you or it.

As we go through the film, the lead character is Denver entirely likable. He seems to blame others for his own failures and still feels he is owed. Even if at times, you can see his side to things, and that his punishment might be a little excessive, he does himself no favors.

We see how people treat him and turn on him. Something simple. Seems like it’s on a stack of dominoes, falling all in a Row one behind another.

Attention, as usual, is thrown out for something that seems so simple but cuts to the very heart of us all morally which is the strength of filmmaker Asghar Farhadi

Most of his films rely on moral dilemmas, that are easily identifiable for most of us where empathy can only go, so far before we are truly challenged to make choices

As with this film, it all boils down to honesty, survival, and ego, as well as responsibility and exploitation, and how no matter our intentions, how well-meaning they may be if not honest or honorable police can leave behind a certain stain, not to mention take on a life of their own

The film is more of a character study that involves many who are all affected by the actions of the main character.

This film shows the worst that could happen behind a good deed, and that the world is cynical that there might be Cash behind good honesty, but also if it helps you out or you take advantage of the outcome. It asks if is it still as honest.

What the film does honor and many can appreciate is that there can be many truths.

GRADE: A

ABOUT ELLY (2009)

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Written & Directed By: Asghar Farhadi 

Story By: Asghar Farhadi and Azad Jafarian

Cinematography: Hossein Jafarian

Editor: Iman Rahimi and Hayedeh Safiyari

Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Shahab Hosseini, Taraneh Alidoosti, Sajjad Dolati, Merila Zare’i, Mani Hachighi, Peyman Moaadi, Ra’Na Azad, Ahmad Mehranfar, Saber Abbar 

A group of friends leave Tehran for a long weekend on the Caspian Sea. A young kindergarten teacher named Elly is invited along to join the good friends and family. The reason is soon made apparent: she’s being set up with a recently divorced man. Over an easy-going holiday, tensions rise until a crisis point is triggered, and Elly goes missing.

This film is tricky as eventually, it becomes a mystery, though at first, it seems more like a reunion drama.

It quickly becomes melodramatic as friends come together and celebrate a vacation that brings a newcomer. Eventually not only is her feet under investigation but also who she was.

This all begins to tear, not only the friends apart, but also the couples and relationships. As she might have been there for some ulterior motives, that only Sam knew about.

We learn about her as most of the characters do as they keep getting pulled in Dever, as it goes along and more is revealed

This film is full-scale storytelling surrounding events in the friend’s fall out, As questions are slowly answered plenty of mysteries are introduced and still remain

The film is a morality play from different points of view, which is what the Director Asghar Farhadi, excels at painting, a full picture and making sure that you are paying attention to all the little details in focus

Not necessarily, a murder mystery, but a mystery nonetheless, as lies and secrets lead to more trouble it’s not as melodramatic as one, I think as it stays sharp and we become more invested trying to see where it will go 

The film mostly takes place in a single location that while small becomes epic 

This all leads to a haunting and haunted, ending, showing the damage of their lies, and what it has done to their lives, which would also allow for answers

Grade: B