Asghar Farhadi returns to Cannes with "Parallel Tales," a new film starring Isabelle Huppert and Vincent Cassel that draws inspiration from the structural approach of Krzysztof Kieślowski's interconnected narratives. The two-time Oscar-winning Iranian director, despite residing in Iran, has chosen not to make films there, a stance he elaborated on during the festival.
Farhadi won Academy Awards for "A Separation" (2011) and "The Salesman" (2016), both shot in Iran but produced under complex circumstances given the country's censorship restrictions and political climate. His decision to film abroad represents a fundamental shift in his creative independence. The filmmaker faces a familiar tension for Iranian auteurs. Working domestically means navigating state approval systems, cultural ministry oversight, and self-censorship pressures that can compromise artistic vision. Working abroad offers freedom but distances him from the stories and communities he knows intimately.
"Parallel Tales" signals Farhadi's continued engagement with formally ambitious storytelling. The Kieślowski reference matters here. Like the Polish master's "Three Colors" trilogy and "Dekalog," Farhadi's approach interweaves separate narratives that comment on each other thematically, creating resonance across individual stories. With Huppert and Cassel leading an international cast, the film positions itself as a European co-production rather than an Iranian national cinema project.
This choice reflects broader patterns among acclaimed Iranian directors. Jafar Panahi famously shot "Taxi" and other works while under film bans in Iran. Amir Naderi and others have relocated to continue uncompromised work. Farhadi's situation differs because he maintains residence in Iran while producing films internationally. This duality allows him to preserve connections to Iranian life