A Hero (I) (2021) User Reviews (163)

Fascinating and Morally Complex

[evanston_dad · 9/10 · 28 January 2022]

Another fascinating and morally complex character study from Asghar Farhadi.

As with his previous movies "A Separation" and "The Salesman," Farhadi presents us with an ambiguous situation and then sits back and observes what happens as a varied cast of characters try to navigate it. There are no good guys or bad guys, and there's no clear right or wrong. Some people do good things for the wrong reasons. Some people do bad, or at least hurtful, things for a good reason. Many characters fall into both categories. I love Farhadi's films because they don't editorialize and they acknowledge that the world we live in is messy and complicated and that nothing, not ideas or people or beliefs, can fall into the tidy buckets that our social media world wants them to.

Grade: A.

Another morality play, another home run from Asghar Farhadi

[paul-allaer · 8/10 · 22 January 2022]

"A Hero" (2021 release from Iran; 127 min.) brings the story of Rahmir. As the movie opens, we are introduced to Rahmir, who is on a two day release from jail, resulting from a loan he wasn't able to repay to his creditor, who is owed 150 million tomans (about $3,500). Much to his surprise, Rahmir's girlfriend has found a lady's purse that contains 17 gold coins which would go a long way to pay back the loan. But Rahmir's conscience tells him to instead return the gold coins to its rightful owner. It sets into motion a series of events that no-one could've foreseen...

Couple of comments: this is the latest from Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi, who has won Oscars for both 2011's "A Separation" and 2016's "The Salesman". Here once again Farhadi takes a look at a slice of life, where thing don't evolve as expected. On its face, the movie, very much like Farhadi's prior films, is deceitfully simple but in fact it examine many different aspects: a divorced man with a young son who stutters; the accumulative effects of so-called white lies; the peer pressure to conform in a conservative society. In the end, "A Hero" is another complex, nuanced morality play from Asghar Farhadi that, like an onion, reveals more with each layer as the movie goes by. The no-names cast is fantastic from start to finish. Filmed in the city of Shiraz (in southwest Iran), the film also offers a glimpse of what daily life in Iran looks like today (guess what: they are people just like us, many struggling to simply make ends meet).

"A Hero" premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival to immediate critical acclaim (and winning one of the festival's major prizes). After a limited US theatrical release, the movie moved to Amazon Prime this weekend, where I caught it. If you are in the mood for another top-notch foreign morality play that is is as universal as it is spellbinding, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it on Amazon Prime, Amazon Instant Video, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

The Best Laid Plans...

[Xstal · 8/10 · 29 December 2022]

You've failed to pay a debt, and you must pay, so it's off to debtors prison for a stay, an inconsistent crime, just like the serving of your time, so you walk a line, keep fingers crossed, and pray. One day, it looks as if you've found the key, to build support from others, and you might be free, you're the hero of the day, they want to listen to what you say, but your creditor is struggling to agree. Momentum builds, and society supports, but soon there's questions about events, that you purport, the best laid plans are all soon scuppered, you're deviations are discovered, future freedom is now buckled, and distort.

Engrossing and engaging, perfectly presented and performed, and if it does nothing other than getting you to think about how you might behave in the same or similar scenario then it's done its job.

Simple yet complex morality tale by a master filmmaker

[gortx · 26 January 2022]

Can one do a good deed even if it's under false pretenses? If so, is it still "heroic"? Superb Writer-Director Asghar Farhadi's (A SEPARATION, SALESMAN) latest is based on the simplest of premises: A man discovers a lost bag containing gold. The finder here is Rahim (Amir Jadidi) who is on leave from debtor's prison when he comes into possession of the loot. The valuables could go a long way to helping him pay off his debt -- and possibly lead to his release so he can return to his son and fiancee Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust).

With Farhadi, nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Every thought and glance - let alone action - has consequences (as does inaction). The auteur weaves a complex web of motivations into the most elemental of deeds. The notions of 'good' and 'bad' are far less important than the moral and ethical implications. The title itself ironically invokes what happens to Rahim's reputation -- as well as those of his family and anybody else who are drawn into his entanglements.

The screenplay evokes classic Italian Neo-realism where something as innocent as buying a pair of shoes can create a whole complex journey around it (an example which the great screenwriter Cesare Zavattini himself used). Farhadi includes current technology such as social media, but, at it's heart, it's a tale of a man and his choices. The setting in Iran is also cleverly woven into the fabric of the storytelling with its notions of family honor and treatment of women being key subtexts.. There are a few moments here and there that get a bit repetitive, but, there is always a sense that Farhadi is firmly in control of the narrative.

None of this would work without some fine acting and Farhadi's keen eye. Jadidi is excellent as the hapless 'hero'. Mohsen Tanabandeh is equally fine as the stubbornly proud creditor as are several more in the large cast. Each actor perfectly representing their character's particular viewpoint. Farhadi isn't a stylist in the common cinefile definition of the word, but his precise camera placements and editing nonetheless mark him as one of the finest Director's working in the world. A HERO adds to his impressive resume.

A perfectly told story

[rubenm · 9/10 · 28 December 2021]

In cinema, there is usually a clear division between the bad guys and the good guys. The viewer identifies with the former, and dislikes the latter. This is easy for the audience and for the film maker.

But Asghar Farhadi is known for not taking the easy way. In 'A Hero', the good guy can turn out to be bad after all, and vice versa. Or, more accurately, the division between good and bad is blurred. Everyone has good intentions, but sometimes they come out bad.

This is why Farhadi is one of the greatest contemporary film makers. His films deal with moral issues, just as people in the real world do. His characters are complex, like we alle are. There are no easy solutions to the problems, just as in real life.

'A Hero' tells the story of an ordinary man who gets involved in a situation he no longer controls. He is perceived as a hero because he returned a bag with valuables to its owner, but when his story is doubted, fate turns against him. The situation becomes complex, more and more people get involved and there is gradually more at stake as the story unfolds.

The screenplay of this film is perfect. Every details has a meaning somewhere in the story. Things are not spelled out, but nothing is left vague. The beauty is also that this is a circular story, with an end that is the opposite of the beginning. The very last scene is wonderful in its simplicity and understated meaning.

With this film, Farhadi shows us also what life is like in modern Iran. It's not a political film and the story is rather universal, but several elements can be perceived as critical for Iranian society. The 'hero' is jailed for an unpaid debt, which is something we don't do in western countries. He has to keep his relationship with his girlfriend a secret, because they are not married yet. Another character had to spend his daughter's dowry, and we see her as an unmarried woman, living with her father.

For me 'A Hero' is one of the best films I've seen this year and also one of the best films Farhadi has made. A perfectly told story, which keeps on offering new elements to evaluate reality - that is what film making should be all about.

what is a hero?

[ferguson-6 · 8/10 · 5 January 2022]

Greetings again from the darkness. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." That line from a Sir Walter Raleigh poem hit me early, and stuck with me through this latest superb film from Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi. Having won me over a decade ago with A SEPARATION (2011), and again 5 years ago with THE SALESMAN (2016), Farhadi excels at pushing our buttons on the complexities of human nature.

Rahim (Amir Jadidi) receives a two day leave from debtor's prison, and has reason for optimism. He has a legitimate plan to make good on his debt and gain his release. A taxi drops him at the tomb of Xerxes where his sister's brother Hossein (Alireza Jahandideh) is working on the preservation. Rahim, a low-key guy with an easy smile, asks Hossein for help in brokering a deal with Bahram (Mohsen Tanabandeh), the man who paid off the loan shark on Rahim's behalf, and filed the complaint that sent him to jail.

The divorced Rahim meets up with his secret lover, Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust), to cash out the 17 gold coins she recently found. Unfortunately, the exchange rate is less than expected, and worse than that for Rahim, Bahram refuses to accept the partial payment in conjunction with a promissory note. This leads to the aforementioned 'tangled web' and allows filmmaker Farhadi to do what he does best ... cause us to question everything.

The web involves Rahim, Bahram, the jailer, and a local charity that gets involved for what is initially termed the actions of 'a hero'. But that's just the tip of who gets dragged in, and that includes Rahim's son, who has a significant speech impediment. So what happens? Well, without giving anything away, we learn there's a fine line between a lie and the truth, and between a heroic act and manipulation. In fact, Farhadi has us questioning what it means to be a hero. What impact does media attention have? Is it heroic to do the right thing? What if that thing also helps you? What role do the reasons for your actions play?

Rahim faces a steady stream of moral forks in the road. Which path to take at any given time has ramifications on him, his situation, and countless others. As the fibs pile up, soon others are lying to help you or telling stories to hurt you. There is so much grey area here, we can't be certain whether black and white even exists. Farhadi's film seems like a simple story about a simple man, but neither the story nor the man are simple. It's not about the money, but the money reveals character. Reputation and integrity are on the line. We may first root for Rahim and jeer Bahram, but upon reflection, we likely shift our support. This is Iran's submission to the Academy, and it's a good one.

In theaters January 7, 2022 and streaming on Amazon Prime January 21, 2021.

Feels Real!

[adilmerchant · 7/10 · 9 February 2022]

Iranian film with innovative plot by Asghar Farhadi.

Amir Jadidi caries the movie. He wrestles with a moral dilemma and tries to do the right thing but circumstances do not favor him. He beautifully portrays the character's mild mannerisms and shows his anger due to festering frustrations and flare ups. Supporting cast has done a great job. Overall a decent movie which feels REAL and offers the viewer something new.

People, the true stuff!

[shabanavdulaj · 8/10 · 21 January 2022]

There is no filmmaker working today who can match Farhadi's ability to portray real-life family dynamics, everyday occurrences, and all the small details of life. Farhadi is the master when it comes to bringing a true sense of realism in his movies, and in this latest effort, he makes sure of making that obvious. Yet, although 'A Hero' conveys successfully that Farhadi touch for genuine realism, the film is deprived of the kinetic energy Farhadi's most triumphant films enroll on.

Here Farhadi decides to go for seemingly a more rewarding path regarding the script. He chooses to construct a long pattern of conflicts, hoping to keep the audience constantly interested. But Asghar goes overboard with it. It's like someone dared him to create the twistiest story he could come up with, and voila, this is the result. But this amount of plot-heavy nature of the screenplay didn't play as Farhadi was hoping. The film gets tiresome; too convoluted - not that I wasn't able to keep up with the story because Farhadi does an incredible job constructing it meticulously, but it lacks that spark that, as I said, made Farhadi's other films such masterpieces.

But my problem with the script is from a story standpoint only (that later would cause some plot holes with the character development of the main protagonist, which I can easily overlook - minor issue). As for the dialogue, here we get to enjoy some of the best character interactions Farhadi has ever created. And the actors deliver, at worst, grounded performances. I loved the performance of the actor playing the protagonist. I appreciate non-verbal acting, and Amir Jadidi shines in those moments here. His face is naturally compelling. He says so much with a sole glare - terrific performance!

As all Farhadi's movies, 'A Hero' is a film told with an enormous grace; a nuanced portrait of domestic life that's so far-reaching as it deals with thematics that are true to life in any culture and society. Again, the film is not up to mark with the best's of Farhadi. The numerous twist and turns seem to pile up and can become exhausting, plus the film feels longer than its running time due to its gradual pacing. But the simple approach, the assured direction, and outstanding performances make this one of the finest portrays of intricate human drama.

A hero?

[brockfal · 7/10 · 12 February 2022]

Moral dilemmas and a personal struggles set in modern Iran; a dialogue heavy complex and culturally specific tale which, if you do give it time, may pull you in and absorb, though it may also be too slow and un-dynamic for some viewers. Excellent naturalistic and nuanced film making, acting, but not as good as the same director's masterful 'A Separation'.

Excellent!

[Sir_AmirSyarif · 9/10 · 5 December 2021]

Asghar Farhadi returns to his signature style and being at the top of his game with the excellent 'A Hero.' It doesn't have the narrative power or surprising turns of Farhadi's masterpieces 'About Elly' (2009) and 'A Separation' (2011). But his remarkable ability to build a smart and thoughtful story about morality and the desperation to prove oneself to the world is simply something to admire.

Very good movie...

[Thanos_Alfie · 7/10 · 1 February 2022]

"A Hero" is a Drama movie in which we watch a man in prison because of a debt. His life changes when on his two-day leave tries to persuade his creditor to withdraw his complaint about the debt.

I found this movie very interesting because it had a nice plot that contained plenty of unbelievable scenes and combined very well drama with action at some moments. The direction which was made by Asghar Farhadi who is also the writer of it, it was very good and he presented very well his main character along with his past and his current situation, something that made possible for the audience to relate to him. In addition to this, the interpretation of Amir Jadidi who played as Rahim Soltani was simply outstanding and he made the difference. In conclusion, I have to say that "A Hero" is an interesting drama movie and I highly recommend everyone to watch it because it;s not just a movie, it's a lesson about life.

A sure Oscar nominee from Iran. It's good.

[JohnDeSando · 10/10 · 27 January 2022]

"Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving." Iago to Cassio in Othello.

Modern Iranian society, with its challenging mores, is the subject of auteur writer/director, Asghar Farhadi's A Hero. At a bit over two hours, the story of a hapless sign writer and calligrapher caught in a deception spirals into one of the greatest punishments of all in Iran, loss of reputation. In this case, Rahim (Amir Jadidi) partially deserves the loss but to an excessive degree by Western standards.

The ultimate disgrace is to have his peccadillos revealed in social media, where his transgressions like dealing with a loan shark or being with a single woman leave him vulnerable to gossip and without a job. Hard enough to land work after two years in prison for the debt he can't repay and being shamed by his debtor.

The streets and homes are narrow, no doubt in part to shield from the intense heat; such conditions can serve as figurative for the suffocating media and poverty, both of which are common in the Mideast. But then again, A Hero could be set in middle-class USA as well.

The title carries metaphoric baggage, especially with Rahim's son, Siavish (Saleh Karimael), whose speech impediment his father uses to improve his own reputation and convince authorities of his innocence. Such moves alternately repel and ingratiate him, in no small way because he has a pleasant visage and a smile that after a while becomes sinister as he tries to get through his misfortunes and misdeeds with it.

A Hero is a slice of Iranian life whose heft is supplied by modern relentless social media reporting, a cautionary tale about anyone in any society today who tries to hide from public scrutiny. Nothing less than reputation rides on it.

"Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial." Cassio in Othello.

Worth a watch!

[paulscott-18340 · 7/10 · 8 January 2022]

Unusual storyline, great characters, well shot and some fantastic humour. Sadly the ending (or lack thereof in terms of information) was a little disappointing, which is why this film wasn't rated higher!

2 hours of foreplay and no climax

[jasonparkers · 5/10 · 21 January 2022]

The movie is well written and beautifully shot and edited. It is very slow as most Iranian movies are but it really has no ending or no satisfactory ending and no climax and no resolution. It leaves you feeling empty feeling you wasted your time. It had the potential to be great.

Asghar Farhadi Returns With A Vengeance

[CinemaClown · 1 February 2022]

After a rare unexpected misfire with his last feature, the Oscar-winning Persian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi returns with a vengeance to prove why he is one of contemporary cinema's finest storytellers and delivers what's arguably his best work since A Separation. Jam-packed with all the attributes that make his stories so restlessly riveting, A Hero is another laser-focused & razor-sharp drama that unravels with cut-throat intensity.

Written & directed by Farhadi (About Elly & The Salesman), the premise is deceptively simple as expected and yet again, using mere truth & lies, the director weaves a tightly structured & intricately layered narrative that keeps us on the edge at all times. His unfailing ability to take a seemingly straightforward situation and then effortlessly turn it into a complex, challenging & nerve-wracking moral conundrum is one trait that never fails to impress.

What makes Farhadi's latest film so gripping & effective is that we as viewers can relate to what the protagonist is trying to do but we also see him unnecessarily dragging himself into a predicament that becomes increasingly difficult to escape from with every decision he makes and yet, all we can do is be a spectator to his undoing. Amir Jadidi's performance is crucial to this web of truth, lies, morality, deceit, honour, conscience & consequence and he plays his role to perfection.

Overall, A Hero is an ingeniously crafted & tautly narrated drama that unfolds with the unrelenting ferocity, nail-biting tension & edge-of-the-seat quality of a first-rate thriller and is accomplished enough on all fronts to cement its spot amongst the best all-round films of 2021. Presenting the Persian auteur at the apex of his craft while also establishing him as a luminary who's operating on a whole another level and is far ahead of his contemporaries, A Hero is top-tier cinema & a flat-out masterpiece.

Mind Blowing

[atractiveeyes · 10/10 · 22 January 2022]

Iran's official entry to 2022's Oscars is just a masterpiece. Asghar Farhadi is a genius, through his special touches he brings out the best of a movie without any exaggeration or forced efforts. This film is all simple, authentic, genuine, sensational, intense, captivating and amazingly made. The screenplay is brilliant and the story is mind blowing, it keeps you fully involved and on the edge of your seat from the very beginning until the credits start rolling. Cinematography is nice. Performances are real and outstanding. It's easily one of my favorite movies from last year.

A true hero defeated by Social Media

[hktfygp · 8/10 · 24 January 2022]

Another great and mind blowing movie by Farhadi. Like his other movies, the story starts like a small snowball rolling down the hill and devastates lives.

In this story, the snowball is the social media leading to defaming a good deed from a humble hero down the hill. Amazing storyline! Many audiences gave this movie low rating as the ending didn't satisfy their expectations. The fact is, we are constructing the end ahead of the story and get disappointed if we are seeing it the same.

Cheer up mate

[valleyjohn · 7/10 · 12 February 2022]

The two other films I have seen from writer and director Asghar Farhadi are The Salesmen and A Separation . Both really good films and both winners of Best Foreign Language film at The Oscars . There were some eyebrows raises when A Hero didnt even receive an Academy nomination when they were announced this week but have to say I'm not completely surprised.

This is the story of Rahim , who 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.

Not unlike Farhadi's previous films , this is a film about reputation and avoiding shame in a close knit community .

What I like about his films are his insight into the Iranian way of life .

The western view of Iran is very different to what it's actually like and it's great to see a window into this world .

This isn't as good as Farhadi's previous big hitters .

It feels like a farce at times . There are twists and turns and multiple solutions to Rahim's problems but we barely get a smile from him and that's the problem I have with the film .

Rahim is onscreen for nearly every scene and all we see is him looking forlorn .

I can't remember a film where the main character has his head down as much as this one and after a while it gets a little annoying .

You feel like shaking him out of his depression.

The only two times he gets really animated, he gets physical and it feels out of character.

Don't get me wrong , I did like the film but It's probably twenty minutes too long .

Although this missed out on an Oscar Nomination it did win the best film at Cannes last year .

I look forward to Asghar Farhadi's next project and another foray into everyday Iranian life .

No good deed goes unpunished

[pasaribuharisfadli · 9/10 · 22 January 2022]

As any Asghar Farhadi's film, A Hero is also a stomach-churning fair. It manages to deliver unpleasantness during the course of the narrative through tight and gripping suspense. A Hero is s a well-crafted engrossing film that works both as a modern fable about moral ambiguity and a pungent commentary on society's collective hypocrisy.

A HERO review

[bradh6886 · 7/10 · 28 January 2022]

I wanted to like A HERO a lot more than I did. While I will always appreciate stories highlighting the importance of truth over everything, I wasn't moved to tears when I thought I would be. An elite lead performance from Amir Jadidi, and youngster Saleh Karimaei shines.

The journey of a Simple Man in its Cruelty!!

[li0904426 · 9/10 · 26 January 2022]

Asghar Farhadi is able to capture with his screenplay and direction the essence of a society that likes to create heroes and then bring them down in shame. This is a story of a simple man's journey who with the unquestionable generosity of his action is turned into a hero. The ordinary act, gets him into a web of bureaucracy that questions his integrity, honesty, and ethics. Amir Jadidi shines as Rahim Soltani, his small gestures, his eyes and posture carry the frustration, disappointment, sadness we all feel for his character. Just an astonishing performance.

One of the best movies of 2021.

Complex Mystery

[imogenwooder · 7/10 · 9 January 2022]

In my view this is a story of corporate corruption. I appreciate that some people see this in a different light. The main character is encouraged to tell a story - by the prison authorities and then a Funding Organisation which is not exactly true. It includes some White Lies etc... but Social Media will neither forgive nor forget and his story is pulled apart piece by piece.

Farhadi's best since A separation

[AminGhanbari · 10/10 · 30 October 2021]

When we discuss on movies by Asghar Farahdi we do expect to see some character swings in the screenplay and this is not an exceptional movie in this respect. However, we encounter with a more experienced director which has now become more skilled in using this technique as the other aspects of the characters result in making these swings more believable. This is exactly what he lacked in previous movies of himself except some parts in A Separation andA Beautiful City. This movie has it all; from romance to comedy; comedy to drama, drama to tragedy. The same with his previous movies, we see so many symbols available in the movie. The city of Pars, Shiraz may trigger the ancient Iranian culture of less lies and more love which has been surrounded by darkness of the social network and probably the current era difficulties which makes this movie a critical one while illustrating all we could have already heard in theory regarding bad impacts of social media on people lives. Farhadi is now capable of designing his path to the main message he has there in his mind. He speaks frankly with less metaphors compared to his previous movies and we do understand what his challenges are with the morality issues existing not only in Shiraz, Iran but also in the today's world. Characters in the movie are neither bad nor good; they are all humans and are free to challenge themselves with the lives' difficulties. Farhadi wants to anecdote his story in a way that let us think how our decisions and somehow acts might be praised or criticized by the society; the same with all heroes since the very beginning of this world who had enemies and friends, people with and people against themselves at the same time.

I believe this has been one of the most geometrical original screenplays ever written. It would be wonderful not to see this among the final Oscars contenders; it has it all.

Farhadi also has another time convinced the cinema fans that he is a director to remember. I can not avoid mentioning the performance of Amir Jadidi among the best ones in 2021. His Shirazi accent, the way he talks to us through his eyes and the way he pictures what he has thoroughly understood from his role in the movie. It would be hard to avoid Farhadi's ability in directing his play and if you add the other cast performances including the newcomer Sahar Goldoust as Farkhonde and Mohsen Tanabandeh as the debtor, we see excellent performances by the cast thank to their own capability and a good way of directing by Farhadi. All the other aspects also prove my word as we can experience the exact timing for original score to play, the exact angles for the cameras and the exact colors for the scene which makes Farhadi's performance a one to remember, a one to praise.

I believe this movie is one of the best movies in the world of cinema and I recommend this to be watched by anyone who would like to learn something through joy of cinema.

It is obviously Farhadi's best since A separation and is a certain contender for the Academy Awards this year.

Amin Ghanbari- 30 October 2021.

Too long but revealing of human nature

[moggie48-380-319572 · 7/10 · 28 January 2022]

I found this as much a commentary on the power of social media for good or ill as an explication of human nature. Regardless of the cultural milieu, our lives are now irrevocably influenced by media, social and otherwise. I do believe it took too long for the story to play out.

not interesting and weak plot

[hnkn-39499 · 5/10 · 30 January 2022]

A hero is huge step backward for the oscar winning director, asghar farhadi, the plot as a whole doesn't make much sense there are unanswered plot holes in the movie the actors did a relatively good job and the charachters are believable and close to real life pity that the screenplay and the story is weak and illogical.