Asghar Farhadi’s latest film, Parallel Tales, will screen in Tehran, followed by a discussion with film critics. The event will introduce Iranian audiences to Farhadi’s newest international production and its distinctive dramatic approach.
The screening will take place at the Adapa Art and Cultural Center in Tehran. Following the showing, critics Mehrzad Danesh and Omid Soleymani will lead a review session.
Parallel Tales made its international debut at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The film received a seven-minute ovation, highlighting the audience’s strong response during its festival presentation.
The movie features an international cast led by Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, and Catherine Deneuve. Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, and Adam Bessa also appear in important roles.
Farhadi builds the story around a writer living in Paris and closely watching her neighbors. She creates imaginary narratives about their lives, gradually blurring the boundary between observation and invention.
The story changes direction after a young homeless man enters the writer’s world through domestic work. His arrival creates unexpected consequences and pushes imagined events closer toward reality.
The film draws inspiration from an episode of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s television series Dekalog. However, Farhadi develops the premise through his own themes surrounding relationships, perception, and human behavior.
Parallel Tales also represents Farhadi’s second French-language feature after The Past. His earlier French-language production starred Berenice Bejo, who earned Cannes’ Best Actress award for her performance.
The new production brings together companies from France, Italy, and Belgium. Alexandre Mallet-Guy produced the project alongside Farhadi and David Levine.
The project also continues Farhadi’s professional relationship with Memento Production. Their previous collaborations include The Past, The Salesman, Everybody Knows, and A Hero.
Farhadi filmed Parallel Tales in Paris during the autumn of 2025. The film subsequently reached French cinemas around the time of its Cannes presentation.
The Tehran screening therefore offers local audiences an opportunity to examine Farhadi’s latest international creative direction. Moreover, the accompanying discussion allows critics to explore the film’s narrative structure and social themes.
Farhadi remains one of Iran’s most internationally recognized filmmakers, with major awards across Europe and Hollywood. His films frequently examine family relationships, social pressures, moral choices, and conflicts between personal responsibility and circumstance.
He won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for A Separation in 2012. Five years later, The Salesman earned him another Oscar in the same category.
A Separation also received major recognition at the Berlin International Film Festival. Farhadi won the Golden Bear there, reinforcing his position within international cinema.
His Cannes record also includes several major competition selections throughout his career. The Past, The Salesman, Everybody Knows, and A Hero all competed at the prestigious festival.
The Salesman secured both Best Screenplay and Best Actor honors at Cannes in 2016. Meanwhile, A Hero received the festival’s Grand Prize after its 2021 competition appearance.
Farhadi also expanded his international filmmaking work through Everybody Knows, his Spanish-language debut. That production featured Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem and opened Cannes competition in 2018.
His earlier career also includes recognition for About Elly at the Berlin festival. Farhadi received the Silver Bear for Best Director for that film in 2009.
Consequently, Parallel Tales continues a career shaped by international productions, multilingual storytelling, and major festival recognition. Its Tehran screening now provides another opportunity for Iranian audiences to engage directly with his work.
The subsequent critical discussion may also encourage broader debate about the film’s themes and filmmaking choices. Meanwhile, Farhadi’s continued international activity demonstrates the expanding reach of Iranian cinema worldwide.