The title of Asghar Farhadi's latest film is descriptive, not ironic (at least not exactly), but it is a Farhadi movie after all, so nothing is simple, especially when it comes to judgments of behavior and morality. Our hero, played by Amir Jadidi, is on a short release from debtor's prison, from which he is hoping to gain a more permanent release with the approval of his Shylock-like creditor and brother-in-law, played by Mohsen Tanabandeh. You'll have to see how that goes.
This is not Farhadi's very best (that would be A Separation, in my view), but it is better than 95% of movies you will see. Jadidi is excellent as a man wronged who wants to do right, but who is also a little shifty and passive-aggressive, and a hot-head (though not without reason!). Although going to jail for an unpaid private debt seems like an atavism, it still happens in Iran and other countries and, as my friend MK reminded me, was common in the "civilized" English legal tradition until not so long ago. As is the case with other Farhadi movies, his main goal is not to condemn such structural injustices but to understand how real people might behave in that context.
Perhaps the best thing about A Hero is the way it grapples with the role of modern media in making or breaking personal reputations. It seems like a game until prison time and your relationship with your lover and your struggling, beautiful son are at stake.
Do watch it.
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