The film is inspired by the prison experiences of opposition director Jafar Panahhi himself.
The Iranian thriller film exploring the corruption of the country and national violence won the coveted top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, The Palme D’Or.
Directed by opposition Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahhi, it was just a crowned at a world-famous festival on Saturday, hours after the blackouts temporarily launched the event.
The festival crowd plunged into a standing ovation roaring of panahhi. Panahi has endured many years of travel bans and prison conditions in Iran due to provocative films that are often secretly produced. He was banned from leaving Iran for more than 15 years.
“Art mobilizes the creative energy of our most precious and most living parts: its power to forgive, hope, and transform the darkness into a new life,” said Juliet Binoche, chairman of the juice who announced the award.
On the stage, Panahhi said that most importantly is the future of his country.
“Let’s join forces,” Panahhi said. “No one should tell us what clothes we should wear, what we should do, or not.”
Partly inspired by Panahi’s own prison experience was an accident that only led to a man named Vahid (played by Vahid Mobaseli) who lured the man with fake legs that looked like the person who tortured him in prison and ruined his life.
Vahid is trying to confirm that he is actually their torturer with the other prison survivors and decide what to do with him.
Critics have praised the film as a clever and symbolic quest for justice that blends dark humor with its intense themes.
Iraqi film “President’s Cake” wins its best first movie
The festival’s Grand Prix, or second award, was awarded to Joachimtria’s Norwegian family drama, Sentimental Value.
Kleber Mendonca Filho’s Brazilian political thriller Secret Agent has won two major awards. He is Fihlo’s Best Director and Wagner Moura’s Best Actor.
The Juju Award was divided into two films: Oliver Lux’s Desert Road Trip, Silat and Masca Sylinsky’s German, a generational drama, and the Sound of Falls. ”
The best actress went to Nadia Meriti for her sister Hafsia Herzi’s French adult drama.
Cannes also honored Hasan Hadi’s President’s Cake with its best first film award, and it is the first time an Iraqi film has won an award at a festival.
The Cannes closing ceremony took place after a massive blackout hit southeastern France on Saturday, forcing traffic lights to knock out and close businesses along the main shopping streets in the Alpes Mari Teams holiday area. Police suspect it is causing a danger.
Geopolitical tensions were also a constant backdrop of the festival, with Russian invasion of Ukraine, Gaza genocide, and US President Donald Trump’s proposal for tariffs on foreign films that fueled discussion.
More than 900 actors and filmmakers have signed an open letter denounced Gaza’s genocide, according to organizers.
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