The 79th Cannes Film Festival hosted the premiere of “Parallel Tales,” the latest drama from acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, competing in the main selection.
Drawing inspiration from a segment of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s iconic late-1980s television series “The Decalogue,” Farhadi’s new work received a somewhat lukewarm reception by festival standards. The international jury panel for the trade publication Screen awarded the film a 1.6 out of 5—currently the lowest score among the films in the competition.
“Kieślowski holds a singular place in my pantheon of directors; I deeply admire his work. He was an auteur who approached his characters with profound humanity and compassion,”
Farhadi remarked during the press conference. Set in Paris, the narrative follows Sylvie (Isabelle Huppert), a novelist struggling to complete her latest manuscript. To overcome her writer’s block, she begins observing her neighbors across the street through a telescope. As she blurs the lines between her own life and their reality, the situation takes an increasingly surreal turn.
“The strength of this script lies in its shifting tone, oscillating between existential inquiry and moments of pure absurdity. My character is multifaceted—intelligent and pragmatic, yet capable of genuine humor,”
Huppert explained. Reflecting on the director’s style, Pierre Niney noted that Farhadi avoids binary depictions of morality, instead embracing the complexities and nuances of human life.
“I believe that is a profoundly healthy approach,”
the actor added. The film features an ensemble cast including Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Adam Bessa, and Catherine Deneuve. “Parallel Tales” is slated for a Russian release courtesy of Exponenta.
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